Real Madrid’s quest for revenge in the latest “clasico” ended in embarrassment as they were beaten 5-2 by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. This defeat followed a heavy 4-0 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish league in October.
Despite Kylian Mbappé putting Madrid ahead early, Barcelona turned the match around with goals from Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha — who scored twice — and Alejandro Balde. Rodrygo pulled one back for Madrid after Barcelona’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off early in the second half.
This victory marked Barcelona’s third consecutive win in 2025, recovering from a two-game losing streak at the end of last year. Lewandowski commented on the team’s improvement, highlighting how the Christmas break helped them regroup and refocus.
On the other hand, Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the disappointment of the loss but stressed the importance of learning from setbacks. Despite the defeat, Madrid’s focus is already shifting toward future matches.
Mbappé’s early goal came just five minutes into the game, showcasing his skill as he ran past Barcelona’s defense and finished with finesse. Barcelona responded with an equalizer from Yamal, followed by a go-ahead goal from Lewandowski. Raphinha added two goals, while Balde struck in first-half stoppage time. Rodrygo’s free-kick in the second half was the only consolation for Madrid after Szczesny’s red card.
Barcelona also received a boost with the inclusion of Spain’s Dani Olmo, thanks to the Spanish government stepping in to allow his registration.
In a related match, Atletico Madrid extended their winning streak to 14 games with a 1-0 victory over Osasuna, which put them at the top of the Spanish league standings at the halfway point of the season. Atletico’s victory came courtesy of a goal by Julián Álvarez in the 55th minute, allowing them to leapfrog Real Madrid, who are now in second place.
