Barcelona Clinches Spanish Super Cup with Thrilling 3-2 Win Over Real Madrid

Jeddah: Barcelona emerged victorious in the first El Clasico of 2026, defeating Real Madrid 3-2 in an exhilarating Spanish Super Cup final at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. With this win, Barcelona secured their 16th Spanish Super Cup title.

Raphinha Stars with Two Goals
Barcelona’s Brazilian winger Raphinha scored twice to guide his team to glory. The match began as a tightly contested battle, with both sides showing equal intensity. In the 36th minute, Raphinha created space in the box and delivered a precise low shot into the far corner, giving Barcelona the lead.

Real Madrid responded immediately. During first-half stoppage time, Vinicius Junior picked up the ball near the halfway line, beat two defenders with a blistering solo run, and scored to level the match 1-1.

The drama continued two minutes later when Robert Lewandowski found space in the penalty area and executed a delicate chip to restore Barcelona’s advantage. However, just before halftime, Real Madrid equalized once again. From a corner, the ball was cleared off the line by Raphinha but fell to Gonzalo Garcia, whose rebound hit the bar and post before crossing the line, making it 2-2.

Raphinha’s Decisive Strike Secures Title
The second half saw an intense contest, with both teams pushing hard. In the 73rd minute, Raphinha scored the decisive goal. Despite slipping slightly near the edge of the box, his shot deflected off a defender and beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, finding the net and giving Barcelona the lead for good.

Late Drama as Barcelona Goes Down to 10 Men
Tensions escalated in the final minutes when Frenkie de Jong received a red card in the 90th minute for a foul on Kylian Mbappé, reducing Barcelona to 10 players. Real Madrid pressed aggressively, but goalkeeper Jon Garcia thwarted attempts by Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono, ensuring Barcelona held on to their slim advantage.

Barcelona’s thrilling win not only extended their dominance in the Spanish Super Cup but also set the tone for a competitive La Liga season ahead.