By Olaitan Ibrahim
In a jaw-dropping display of dominance, Barcelona obliterated arch-rivals Real Madrid 5-2 to secure the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on Sunday night.
The Catalan giants delivered a performance for the ages, leaving no doubt about their superiority on the pitch.
From the opening whistle, Barcelona exhibited their intent, with Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski spearheading an attacking masterclass.
Madrid, stunned by Barcelona’s relentless pace and precision, struggled to keep up despite flashes of brilliance from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. Mbappe netted Madrid’s opener in the 5th minute of the game.
The drama kicked off in the 36th minute when Lewandowski coolly converted a penalty after a contentious VAR review for a foul on Gavi.
Just three minutes later, Raphinha powered in a thunderous header, leaving Thibaut Courtois helpless and doubling the lead.
Madrid briefly rallied with a sublime free kick from Rodrygo, who found the back of the net in the 60th minute. However, their hopes of a comeback were dashed when Barcelona countered swiftly, with Alejandro Balde slotting home a clinical finish in stoppage time of the first half.
The second half saw Barcelona tighten their grip, with Raphinha netting his second goal after a blistering solo run that left the Madrid defence in tatters.
Wojciech Szczesny’s controversial red card in the 56th minute added to Madrid’s woes, forcing them to finish the game a man down.
Madrid’s star-studded attack, featuring Mbappé and Bellingham, struggled to break down Barcelona’s resolute defence, with Inaki Peña stepping up with crucial saves to deny a late Madrid surge.
By the final whistle, Barcelona fans in Saudi Arabia erupted in celebration, while Madrid supporters were left shell-shocked by the magnitude of the defeat.
The victory not only secured Barcelona the coveted trophy but also cemented their status as the dominant force in Spanish football.