Jeddah, Jan 12 (V7N) — Barcelona clinched the Spanish Super Cup title after defeating arch-rivals Real Madrid 3–2 in a thrilling El Clásico final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Sunday night.

With this victory, the Catalan giants became the first team in 14 years to successfully defend the Super Cup title, securing their 16th domestic Super Cup crown overall.

Brazilian star Raphinha emerged as the hero of the night, scoring two decisive goals to lead Barcelona to glory in a high-voltage encounter.

First-Half Goal Frenzy

The match began at an even pace, with both sides creating early chances. However, Barcelona gradually took control after the half-hour mark.

Raphinha opened the scoring in the 36th minute, breaking through Real Madrid’s defense with a brilliant finish to give Barcelona the lead. Real responded swiftly, as Vinícius Júnior weaved past two defenders from midfield to level the score just before halftime.

What followed was a dramatic sequence in stoppage time. Robert Lewandowski restored Barcelona’s lead with a clever chipped finish, but Real Madrid struck back almost immediately through Gonzalo García, sending the teams into the break locked at 2–2. Four of the match’s five goals came in the first half, three of them during stoppage time.

Raphinha Decides the Final

After the restart, Real Madrid pushed hard in search of the lead, but it was Barcelona who struck decisively. In the 73rd minute, Raphinha once again made the difference. Although slightly off balance while shooting, his effort deflected off a Real defender and found the back of the net, putting Barcelona ahead for the final time.

Barcelona then found themselves under immense pressure late in the game after Frenkie de Jong was sent off, reducing the Catalans to ten men. Real Madrid launched wave after wave of attacks, but Barcelona’s defense held firm, with goalkeeper Iñaki Peña and the backline standing tall under relentless pressure.

Sweet Revenge for Barcelona

Despite Real Madrid’s late surge, Barcelona preserved their narrow lead until the final whistle. The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among the Catalan players and supporters, as they lifted the Super Cup trophy once again.

The win also served as sweet revenge for Barcelona following their earlier El Clásico defeat this season, while confirming their dominance by successfully defending the Super Cup title.

END/SMA/AJ