Raphinha Double Seals Spanish Super Cup for Barcelona in Five-Goal Thriller

Barcelona secured their 16th Spanish Super Cup title on Sunday, edging out arch-rivals Real Madrid 3-2 in a chaotic and captivating final at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

The victory marked back-to-back triumphs in the competition for Hansi Flick’s side, who also defeated Los Blancos in last year’s final. It also maintained the German manager’s impeccable record in showpiece events, with Flick having now won all eight major finals he has managed, extending a streak that began during his tenure at Bayern Munich.

Brazilian forward Raphinha was the hero of the night, curling in the decisive winner in the 73rd minute to settle a match defined by a frantic end to the first half and late drama that saw Barcelona finish with ten men.

First-Half Fireworks

The match exploded into life late in the first period. After controlling the early tempo, Barcelona broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when Raphinha drilled a low effort into the bottom corner.

However, the game turned on its head during a turbulent period of stoppage time before the break. Vinícius Jr. levelled proceedings in the 47th minute (45+2’), ending a personal 17-game goal drought dating back to October 2025. The Brazilian produced a moment of brilliance, slipping the ball through the legs of Jules Koundé before sliding a finish into the far corner.

Barcelona responded almost immediately. Robert Lewandowski restored the lead just moments later, clipping a shot in off the post in the 49th minute. But Real Madrid refused to fold, equalising again three minutes later amidst controversy.

Following a scramble in the box where Dean Huijsen’s header struck the crossbar, Gonzalo García hooked in the rebound to make it 2-2. The goal stood despite furious protests from Flick, who argued that the half-time whistle should have been blown prior to the equaliser.

Raphinha Decides It

The pace settled in the second half until the 73rd minute, when Raphinha capitalised on space to float a precise shot past the goalkeeper, restoring Barcelona’s advantage.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso introduced Kylian Mbappé shortly after the goal. The French star, making his return from a knee injury, attempted to spark a comeback but struggled to find rhythm against a disciplined Barcelona defence.

The closing stages were fraught with tension. Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong received a straight red card in stoppage time for a lunge on Mbappé, leaving his team to survive a nervous finale.

Real Madrid squandered late opportunities to force extra time. Substitutes Álvaro Carreras and Raúl Asencio both fired efforts straight at Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García, while at the other end, Marcus Rashford spurned a chance to seal the game, shooting wide when clean through on goal.

Contrasting Fortunes

The result cements a brilliant start to 2026 for Barcelona, who have now won 10 consecutive matches across all competitions. They sit four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and have not tasted defeat against Spanish opposition since the El Clásico loss on October 26.

“This victory provides a first piece of silverware in what could turn into a fruitful season,” the club noted in a statement following the match.

For Real Madrid, the defeat piles further pressure on manager Xabi Alonso. Los Blancos have endured a patchy season, with inconsistency in both La Liga and Europe raising questions about the Spaniard’s future at the Bernabéu. Despite a recent run of five wins helping to alleviate scrutiny, the nature of this defeat against their fiercest rivals may reignite doubts among the fanbase.

The Spanish Football Federation also confirmed that the four-team Super Cup format will continue to be hosted in Saudi Arabia until at least 2029, extending an agreement that has been in place since 2020.