In a pulsating encounter at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Barcelona edged out Real Madrid 3-2 to lift the 2026 Spanish Super Cup. Raphinha emerged as the hero, bagging a brace to seal the victory for the Catalan side. This win marks Barcelona's record-extending 16th Super Cup title and their first trophy of the 2025-26 season.
The match, a classic El Clásico, was a captivating affair from start to finish. Barcelona dominated possession in the early stages, but the first half remained goalless until the 36th minute when Raphinha broke the deadlock. Real Madrid responded swiftly, with Vinícius Júnior leveling the score with an individual effort. Barcelona regained the lead before halftime through Robert Lewandowski, only for Gonzalo Garcia to equalize for Madrid again in stoppage time, leaving the score at 2-2 going into the break.
The second half saw both managers, Hansi Flick of Barcelona and Xabi Alonso of Real Madrid, making tactical adjustments to gain an advantage. Barcelona's Hansi Flick opted for Lewandowski up front and brought Lamine Yamal back in on the right wing. Real Madrid introduced Kylian Mbappé, who had been sidelined with a knee injury, in the final 15 minutes as they searched for an equalizer.
The decisive moment arrived in the 73rd minute when Raphinha's shot took a deflection, wrong-footing the Real Madrid goalkeeper and handing Barcelona a 3-2 lead. The tension escalated in stoppage time when Frenkie de Jong received a straight red card for a professional foul on Mbappé, forcing Barcelona to defend with ten men. Despite a late onslaught from Real Madrid, including a heroic double save from Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García, Barcelona held on to secure the victory.
This Super Cup triumph is the fourth trophy of Hansi Flick's reign as Barcelona coach. For Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso, this defeat marks their third consecutive final loss to Barcelona, having also lost the Supercopa 2025 and Copa del Rey 2025. The match was played in front of a packed crowd at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, further highlighting the Super Cup's status as one of Europe's most commercially successful tournaments.
