Barcelona defeated arch-rivals Real Madrid 3-2 to lift the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, with Raphinha scoring twice, including a fortuitous late winner, to seal the Catalan club’s record 16th title.
Played in Jeddah, the Clasico final saw Raphinha net the decisive goal in the 73rd minute when his slipped shot deflected off Madrid defender Raúl Asencio and wrong-footed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The final featured a frenetic end to the first half, with three goals scored in stoppage time. Real Madrid struck twice through Vinícius Júnior and Gonzalo García, while Barcelona responded with a goal from Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona had taken the lead in the 36th minute when Raphinha finished a swift breakaway. Madrid equalised two minutes into first-half added time through Vinícius, who ended a 16-match goal drought with a superb solo effort.
Lewandowski restored Barcelona’s advantage two minutes later, but García struck again to level the match before the interval.
Raphinha, who also scored twice in Barcelona’s 5-2 win over Madrid in last year’s final, said, “We gave all we had. I was emotional at the end of the match, we needed a win like this."
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Madrid introduced Kylian Mbappé in the 76th minute after the France forward had missed the semifinals because of a knee issue, but the substitution failed to turn the game. Madrid squandered two clear chances in stoppage time as Barcelona held on, despite Frenkie de Jong being sent off late in the match.
The trophy was lifted by Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, who returned after an absence since November. Spanish media reports said the defender had been on a mental health break.
Reflecting on the defeat, Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said, “We have to turn the page as soon as possible. It's just one game, one competition, and it's the least important one we have. We have to look ahead, try to get everyone back together, recover our morale, and move on.”
Barcelona reached the final after thrashing Athletic Bilbao 5-0, while Madrid edged past Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the semifinals.
The victory made Barcelona the first league champion in eight seasons to win the Super Cup and the first team to retain the trophy since Pep Guardiola’s side achieved the feat between 2010 and 2012.
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