Barcelona lifted their first trophy of the season after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on 12 January 2026.
In a pulsating El Clásico that swung relentlessly from end to end, Raphinha proved decisive with two goals, the second arriving midway through the second half to finally settle an absorbing contest played in front of a packed Saudi crowd.
Barcelona started with greater control and were rewarded in the 35th minute when Raphinha made amends for an earlier miss by finishing clinically after finding space inside the box. The lead, however, lasted only briefly. Vinícius Júnior produced a moment of individual brilliance three minutes before the break, driving in from the left and firing an emphatic finish past Joan Garcia to level the score.
The final minutes of the first half descended into chaos. Robert Lewandowski restored Barcelona’s advantage with a delicate chip following a perfectly weighted pass from Pedri, only for Real Madrid to respond almost immediately. Gonzalo Garcia scrambled home after Joan Garcia failed to gather a header, ensuring the teams went into the interval locked at 2-2 after a breathless opening 45 minutes.
The second half maintained the same intensity, with both sides creating chances. Thibaut Courtois denied Lamine Yamal with an outstanding reflex save, while Vinícius continued to trouble Barcelona’s defence at the other end. The decisive moment arrived in the 71st minute when Raphinha’s shot took a deflection and found the net, handing Barcelona the lead for the third time.
Real Madrid threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, introducing Kylian Mbappé and Arda Güler as they pressed late on. Barcelona’s task was made harder when Frenkie de Jong was shown a straight red card in the 88th minute for a reckless challenge on Mbappé, leaving the Catalans to defend with ten men for the closing stages.
Despite sustained pressure, Barcelona held firm. Late chances for Marcus Rashford and Álvaro Carreras failed to beat Joan Garcia, and when the final whistle blew, it was Barcelona who emerged victorious after a gripping encounter.
