FC Barcelona thrash Real Madrid 3-2 in Jeddah to reclaim the Spanish Super Cup in epic El Clásico fashion.
Raphinha opened the scoring for Barça in the 36th minute.
A wild first-half stoppage time featured Vinícius Júnior’s equalizer (45’+2), Lewandowski’s quick response (45’+4), and Gonzalo García’s instant reply (45’+6) for a 2-2 halftime score.
Raphinha sealed the 3-2 victory in the second half with his brace, despite late Madrid pressure.
Barcelona claimed their record-extending 16th Supercopa title, showcasing dominance and resilience under Hansi Flick.
Here are the 5 things we learned:
1. Defensive discipline in chaos is crucial:
Barcelona dominated large parts of the first half with strong possession and created quality chances, but two quick goals conceded in first-half injury time (45’+2 and 45’+6) turned a promising lead into a level scoreline.
This highlights the need to stay ultra-focused during added time and transitions — even small lapses against Madrid’s counter-attacking threats can be punished instantly.
2. Attacking firepower remains elite:
Raphinha’s opener and Lewandowski’s clinical finish showed Barcelona’s ability to break down Madrid’s defense with quick, precise moves.
The team continues to demonstrate a serious goal-scoring threat under Hansi Flick, especially when players like Yamal, Raphinha, and Lewandowski are involved — this attacking identity should be leaned on even more in big games.
3. Set-piece and transition vulnerability needs attention:
Madrid capitalized on moments of disorganization, particularly in transition and late-half pressure. Barcelona’s usually solid backline (which had been conceding very few goals recently) was exposed here.
Improving concentration and organization during these phases will be key moving forward, especially against teams with explosive players like Vinícius.
4. Resilience and mentality are improving:
Despite the late equalizer shock, Barça responded well and avoided collapse.
This shows the team’s mental strength under Flick — a big positive compared to some past Clásicos where momentum swings led to defeats.
5. Rivalry intensity demands full squad rotation readiness :
With injuries and fatigue factors (e.g., Mbappé’s return for Madrid adding unpredictability), Barcelona learned that depth and smart rotation (as seen in the semi-final) pay off.
Keeping key players fresh for these high-stakes clashes will be vital in the rest of the season, whether in La Liga, Champions League, or cup runs.
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