Ten-man Barcelona reclaimed the Spanish Super Cup from Real Madrid on Sunday evening courtesy of a stunning 5-2 success over their bitter rivals in the final of the 2025 competition.
Barcelona have now scored at least four goals in successive Clasicos for the first time in history, having also beaten Los Blancos 4-0 when the two sides locked horns in La Liga earlier this season.
Kylian Mbappe sent Real Madrid ahead in the fifth minute, but Barcelona then scored five times without reply though Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha (two) and Alejandro Balde to move 5-1 ahead in Saudi Arabia.
A red card for Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny gave Real Madrid somewhat of a route back into the clash in the 56th minute, and Rodrygo scored on the hour with a rasping free kick to make it a 5-2 contest.
However, it was Barcelona's night, with Hansi Flick's side becoming 15-time champions of the Spanish Super Cup thanks to one of their best performances of all time in clashes with Real Madrid.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Iconsport
Chaotic El Clasico affairs are relatively normal, but not too many would have predicted what occurred on Sunday night.
Real Madrid made the perfect start, but it unravelled from that moment, and Barcelona, for all of their issues in recent weeks, have now scored nine times in their two appearances against Los Blancos during the 2024-25 campaign.
Barcelona have lost some crucial ground in the La Liga title race, but they have been excellent in the Champions League this season, and in Yamal, Lewandowski and Raphinha, the Catalan outfit have a front three capable of inspiring them to major silverware this term.
Real Madrid had been looking to claim a third trophy of the campaign to add to their UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup triumphs, but this was a bizarre performance from a team that was at full strength other than Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal.
Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior struggled, with Real Madrid handing back the trophy that they won last season, and this result will give Barcelona huge confidence in the weeks ahead.
Real Madrid will be looking to more on as soon as possible, and they would certainly rather be beaten in the Spanish Super Cup than La Liga or the Champions League, but the ease at which Barcelona were able to carve them apart at times was incredible worrying.
REAL MADRID VS. BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS
5th min: Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona (Kylian Mbappe)
Real Madrid make the breakthrough in the fifth minute of the contest, as Mbappe scores a brilliant solo goal, driving into the Barcelona box before firing into the bottom corner - that was the Frenchman at his absolute best.
22nd min: Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona (Lamine Yamal)
Barcelona level the scores in El Clasico, with Yamal dancing into the Real Madrid box before finding the bottom corner with a clever finish; the teenager levels the scores during an incredibly important period of the match.
36th min: Real Madrid 1-2 Barcelona (Robert Lewandowski)
Barcelona have a second in the Spanish Super Cup final, and it comes for Lewandowski as the experienced striker converts form the penalty spot after Gavi had been brought to the ground by Eduardo Camavinga.
39th min: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona (Raphinha)
Huge moment in this match, as Barcelona net a third in the 39th minute; Raphinha gets his name on the scoresheet on this occasion, with the Brazil international heading a brilliant pass from Jules Kounde into the back of the net.
45th min+10: Real Madrid 1-4 Barcelona (Alejandro Balde)
Barcelona make it 4-1 in the closing stages of the first period through Balde, as the Spain international breaks into the Real Madrid penalty box before finding the bottom corner; Real Madrid have again been undone on the counter-attack here.
48th: Real Madrid 1-5 Barcelona (Raphinha)
Would you believe it? Barcelona have a fifth through Raphinha, with the attacker racing through on goal before picking out the bottom corner; Real Madrid are once again hit on the transition, and this is a quite incredible scoreline.
56th min: Wojciech Szczesny (Barcelona) red card
Barcelona are reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute of the contest, as goalkeeper Szczesny is given his marching orders for a foul on Mbappe when the Real Madrid attacker had rounded the Barcelona number two.
60th min: Real Madrid 2-5 Barcelona (Rodrygo)
This incredible match produces another big moment, as Rodrygo scores a second for Real Madrid, with the Brazil international's free kick from distance nestling in the back of the net off the inside of the post - what an incredible football match.
MAN OF THE MATCH - RAPHINHA
© Iconsport
This was close between Yamal and Raphinha, with both players in exceptional form in El Clasico, but the latter just gets the nod, having come up with two goals to help inspire his side to success in the Spanish Super Cup.
The Brazil international has now scored 19 times and registered 11 assists in 27 appearances in all competitions during the 2024-25 campaign, and Real Madrid just could not live with him when he went through the gears in El Clasico.
REAL MADRID VS. BARCELONA MATCH STATS
Possession: Real Madrid 48%-52% Barcelona
Shots: Real Madrid 19-14 Barcelona
Shots on target: Real Madrid 6-8 Barcelona
Corners: Real Madrid 9-5 Barcelona
Fouls: Real Madrid 14-13 Barcelona
BEST STATS
3 - @KMbappe 🇫🇷 has become the first @realmadriden player to score in his first three finals in all competitions since at least the 2013/14 season. Lethal. pic.twitter.com/CFR8bONRvA
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 12, 2025
2 - @FCBarcelona have scored at least 4 goals in back-to-back 'Clásicos' for the first time in history in all competitions (4-0 in LaLiga and 1-4 today) and it is the first time this has happened in this meeting since @realmadrid get it in 1963 (5-1 and 4-0). Unleashed. pic.twitter.com/UIvXo2hEEo
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 12, 2025
HANSI FLICK WINS HIS FIRST TROPHY WITH BARCELONA 🏆
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 12, 2025
THE GERMAN MANAGER ADDS TO AN ALREADY HISTORIC CABINET 👏 pic.twitter.com/O2n8uN6osx
WHAT NEXT?
Both of these sides will now switch their attention to the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey; Real Madrid will tackle Celta Vigo for a spot in the quarter-finals on January 16, while Barcelona will host Real Betis in the competition on January 15.
Barcelona will then aim to bounce back from successive league defeats when they travel to Getafe on January 18, while Real Madrid's next league fixture is at home to Las Palmas on January 19; Los Blancos are currently second in the La Liga table, five points ahead of third-placed Barcelona, with Atletico Madrid currently at the top of the division.
Matt Law
