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Barcelona recovered from Kylian Mbappe’s spectacular opener and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny’s 56th-minute dismissal to beat Real Madrid and win the Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah at the King Abdullah Sports City.
Madrid striker Mbappe spent almost half the pitch to score his first goal in the encounter known as El Clasico, but Lamine Yamal he equalized 17 minutes later, pouncing on Robert Lewandowski’s clever first-time pass and coolly slotting the ball in after entering the penalty area.
Lewandowski converted a penalty, Raphinha buried a powerful header from Jules Kounde’s cross and Alejandro Balde finished off a brilliant counter-attack as Hansi Flick’s side raced into a 4-1 half-time lead, the Brazilian winger firing again three minutes after the break.
When Szczesny was shown a straight red card for denying Mbappe a clear goal-scoring opportunity, midfielder Gavi made way for Inaki Pena – who was sent off before the semi-final due to Barca’s delay – to slot in on goal.
Pena barely had time to settle before Rodrygo responded for Madrid with a sublime free-kick. That proved to be only modest consolation as the reigning European champions’ five-match winning streak came to an end and Barca avenged their 4-1 defeat in last season’s final in style.
The first half, in one picture. #ElClΓ‘sico pic.twitter.com/DVH74c22CX
β FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 12, 2025
Barcelona storms to the Spanish Super Cup
Barcelona have been on a remarkably poor run against Spanish opposition since a 4-0 win at Madrid in La Liga on October 26 and a 3-1 win over Espanyol at home a week later.
Flick’s side were top of the table at that point in his first season in charge, but four defeats and one win in seven league games made results like these potentially crucial for his players’ confidence.
That they bounced back from Mbappe’s scintillating run and trickery to start made it all the more impressive, and their weakened ranks didn’t matter thanks to the three-goal deficit created by Balde’s goal 10 minutes into first-half stoppage time.
In his second game back from injury after scoring in Wednesday’s 2-0 semi-final win against Athletic Bilbao, Yamal collected a stray pass near the edge of his own penalty area and found Raphinha as part of a move that ran the length of the match. field and ended up in Balde who hit the net.
π ππππππππππππππ! π pic.twitter.com/oNI37RtVUZ
β FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 12, 2025
Madrid, Barcelona schedules
Madrid, who beat Mallorca 3-0 in their semi-final, are five points ahead of second-placed Barcelona Leaguewith leaders Atletico Madrid a point more.
There is now a quick turnaround for both teams following their trips to Saudi Arabia for Super Cup deciders, starting when Barca host Real Betis in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday (20.30 GMT).
A day later, Madrid are at home against Celta Vigo (8:30 p.m.), and 14th-ranked Las Palmas is away in the league on Sunday (3:15 p.m.).
On Saturday (20:00), Barcelona will aim for their first league win since December 3 when they travel to 15th-placed Getafe, who have scored the fewest goals overall in the division.
