Real Madrid came out looking for some revenge in the latest “clasico” against Barcelona but ended up being beaten mercilessly again.
Madrid lost 5-2 to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. That followed a 4-0 loss at home to Barcelona in the Spanish league in October.
Kylian Mbappé put Madrid ahead early in his second clasico, but Barcelona then ran away with goals by Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, who scored twice and Alejandro Balde.
Rodrygo scored for Madrid in the second half after Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off early in the second half
Barcelona put in a clinical display to lift their first trophy in more than a year, having no silverware to show for last season.
Hansi Flick’s side prevented Real from winning their third title of the campaign, after they won the European Super Cup against Atalanta and beat Mexico’s Pachuca to the Intercontinental Cup last month.
Yamal released Raphinha with a precise pass following Real’s miserable corner kick, before the Brazil forward left the ball to Balde who scored with a simple finish.
Barca were left with 10 men when goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off for fouling Mbappe in the 56th minute and Rodrygo beat substitute keeper Inaki Pena from the resulting free kick.
But Real, who hold a five-point advantage over Barca in LaLiga after 19 games, had no shots on goal after the penalty until Mbappe’s effort was denied by Pena in stoppage time.
Barcelona also lost defender Inigo Martinez before the half-hour mark through injury, with Ronald Araujo stepping in.
Moreover, Barcelona and Real met in the competition’s final for third consecutive time, with Ancelotti’s side prevailing last year while Barca lifted the trophy in 2023.
Barcelona booked their spot in the final by winning 2-0 against current Spanish Cup holders Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals before Real beat last year’s Copa del Rey finalists Mallorca 3-0.
NewsBand/Reuters
