RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — FC Barcelona secured a commanding victory over Real Madrid on Sunday, clinching their record 15th Supercopa de España title in a thrilling El Clásico final.
Barcelona’s youthful star Lamine Yamal set the tone early, scoring in the 22nd minute to ignite the Catalan club’s offensive surge. Robert Lewandowski followed with a precise penalty in the 36th minute, doubling the lead. Just three minutes later, Raphinha added Barcelona’s third goal, leaving fans jubilant and Madrid struggling to respond.
Real Madrid, whose Kylian Mbappé had opened the scoring with an early strike, appeared overwhelmed by Barcelona’s relentless energy and cohesion. Despite flashes of brilliance from Mbappé, Los Blancos faltered as Alejandro Balde delivered a fourth goal in added time before the halftime whistle, cementing Barcelona’s dominance in the first half.
Real Madrid started the second half with renewed determination, creating opportunities to turn the tide. However, Barcelona maintained their momentum, with Raphinha scoring his second and the team’s fifth goal in the 48th minute.
The game took an unexpected turn when Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny was sent off with a red card for fouling Mbappé in the penalty area. The ensuing penalty offered Madrid a glimmer of hope as Rodrygo converted a stunning free kick to bring the score to 5-2.
Mbappé, determined to lead a Madrid comeback, showcased relentless effort and skill but was unable to bridge the gap, as Barcelona’s defense held firm.
The victory cements Barcelona’s position as the most successful club in Supercopa de España history, with 15 titles now to their name. It also highlights the team’s resurgence under their current leadership, blending emerging talent like Yamal with seasoned stars like Lewandowski.
For Real Madrid, the defeat underscores lingering challenges despite the addition of high-profile players like Mbappé. Manager Carlo Ancelotti will likely face tough questions about his team’s performance and strategy moving forward.
