Barcelona win super cup with 5-2 over Madrid

Barcelona claimed their 15th Spanish Super Cup title with a commanding 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking a spectacular display of attacking football despite playing with 10 men for the final third of the match.

The game began with Real Madrid taking an early lead through Kylian Mbappe in the 5th minute, but Barcelona responded with an impressive first-half performance. Young talent Lamine Yamal equalized in the 22nd minute with a skillful finish, followed by Robert Lewandowski converting a VAR-awarded penalty in the 36th minute. Raphinha extended the lead in the 39th minute with a precise header from Jules Kounde's long ball, and Alejandro Balde added a fourth in first-half stoppage time following a counter-attack from Madrid's corner.

The second half started with Barcelona maintaining their momentum, as Raphinha scored his second goal in the 48th minute, capitalizing on Marc Casadó's assist with an impressive solo run. However, the dynamics shifted when Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny received a straight red card in the 56th minute for a challenge on Mbappe. The sending-off forced Barcelona to bring on backup goalkeeper Iñaki Peña, who was immediately beaten by Rodrygo's free-kick, making it 5-2.

Under manager Hansi Flick's guidance, Barcelona's performance showcased their attacking prowess and tactical superiority, despite losing defender Iñigo Martinez to injury in the first half. The victory was particularly impressive given Madrid's strong start and Barcelona's numerical disadvantage in the latter stages of the match. The triumph at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium adds another prestigious trophy to Barcelona's extensive collection and reinforces their dominance in Spanish football.