Barcelona claimed their record 16th Spanish Super Cup title with a dramatic 3-2 victory over rivals Real Madrid in an electrifying El Clasico final at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Brazilian winger Raphinha was the hero of the night, scoring twice including the decisive goal in the 73rd minute to hand the Catalan giants their second consecutive Super Cup triumph and extend their lead over Real Madrid to three titles in the competition.
The match exploded into life in the second half of the first period, with four goals scored in a frantic eight-minute spell before halftime. Raphinha opened the scoring in the 37th minute after Barcelona dominated possession in the early stages, showcasing the clinical finishing that has made him one of the standout performers this season. His composed strike gave Barcelona the lead and set the stage for an incredible sequence of goals.
Real Madrid responded immediately through Vinicius Junior, who produced a moment of individual brilliance in the 47th minute of the first half. The Brazilian forward beat Jules Kounde with a nutmeg before dancing past Pau Cubarsi and firing past goalkeeper Joan Garcia to level the score. The goal demonstrated the explosive talent that has made Vinicius one of the most feared attackers in world football.
Barcelona regained the lead just two minutes later through Robert Lewandowski, who received a perfectly weighted pass from Pedri in the middle of the pitch. The Polish striker used the outside of his foot to clip the ball around Thibaut Courtois and inside the far post, displaying the technical excellence that has defined his legendary career. However, Real Madrid equalized once again through Gonzalo Garcia in the dying seconds of the first half, sending the teams into the break level at 2-2.
The decisive moment came in the 73rd minute when Raphinha struck a right-footed effort that deflected off Real Madrid defender Raul Asensio and found the back of the net. The fortuitous deflection wrong-footed Courtois completely, giving Barcelona a 3-2 lead that they would desperately need to protect. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Barcelona players and their traveling supporters in Jeddah.
The final minutes were filled with tension as Barcelona were forced to defend with ten men after Frenkie de Jong received a red card. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia emerged as an unlikely hero, making several crucial saves to deny Real Madrid an equalizer as they pushed desperately for a goal that would send the match to extra time. The Dutch midfielder's dismissal added drama to an already intense encounter.
With this victory, Barcelona now hold a commanding lead in the Spanish Super Cup all-time standings with 16 titles compared to Real Madrid's 13. This marked the fourth consecutive year featuring an El Clasico final in the competition, continuing a streak that began with Barcelona's 3-1 win in 2023, followed by Real Madrid's 4-1 victory in 2024, and Barcelona's emphatic 5-2 triumph in 2025. The victory also provides a significant psychological boost for Barcelona as they lead La Liga by four points at the season's midpoint.
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