Barcelona narrowly defeated Real Madrid in a five-goal clash to claim consecutive Spanish Super Cup titles in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
It was the 16th victory in the competition for Hansi Flick’s team, with Barcelona having defeated Los Blancos in the final last year as well.
Raphinha’s lifted shot in the 73rd minute turned out to be the decisive goal following a chaotic conclusion to the first half.
Three rapid goals during first-half stoppage time leveled the score at halftime after Raphinha had initially scored, striking into the bottom corner in the 36th minute.
Vinicius Jr leveled the score two minutes into the three minutes of stoppage time, dribbling past Jules Kounde on a fantastic run before sliding the ball into the far corner, marking his first Real goal in 17 matches, since October 4, 2025.
In the 49th minute, Robert Lewandowski struck the ball off the post to regain the lead for Barca.
However, Gonzalo Garcia scored three minutes later following a scramble in the area that saw Dean Huijsen’s header strike the crossbar, while Barca manager Flick argued that the halftime whistle should have already been blown.
Frenkie de Jong received a direct red card during stoppage time for a tackle on Kylian Mbappe, who had just entered the match after returning from a knee injury.
Late opportunities for both teams created a tense ending, with Marcus Rashford missing the target when unmarked, while Alvaro Carreras and Raul Asencio both directed their shots right at goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
However, Barca managed to maintain their lead to win a second successive title for the first time since 2011.
Barcelona has now achieved 10 consecutive victories, with their last defeat occurring in November against Chelsea in the Champions League.
Since 26 October, when Real defeated them in the El Clasico at the Bernabeu, they have not been defeated by Spanish teams.
Victory gives the initial trophy in what may become a successful season for Flick’s squad, who are four points ahead of Real at the top of La Liga.
This marked the fourth consecutive Clasico Super Cup, with all three of Barca’s final victories under Flick occurring against Real—two Super Cups and the Copa del Rey.
German manager Flick has now triumphed in all eight finals he has participated in, including five with Bayern Munich.
Los Blancos have experienced an inconsistent season, achieving four victories in their past six La Liga games.
The league and European inconsistency have failed to satisfy the high hopes of the club and supporters, leading to inquiries regarding Xabi Alonso’s future in Madrid.
The pressure on the Spaniard appears to have gradually eased with five straight victories in various competitions, but this outcome might bring those inquiries back to the forefront.
Since 2020, the Spanish Super Cup featuring four teams has been held in Saudi Arabia, and the Spanish Football Federation has prolonged the agreement to hold it in the country until 2029.
