Physical Address
Market Street , Kamokya KAMPALA
Barcelona edged past Real Madrid 3-2 in a thrilling Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, securing consecutive titles under Hansi Flick. The victory marked Barcelona’s 16th triumph in the tournament, with the Catalan side also having beaten Los Blancos in last year’s final.
Brazilian forward Raphinha proved decisive, curling in a floated shot in the 73rd minute to seal the win after a frantic first-half finale. Raphinha had initially opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a precise strike into the bottom corner, before three quick goals in first-half stoppage time leveled the contest at halftime.
Vinicius Jr brought Real back into the game, nutmegging Jules Kounde and sliding home into the far corner just two minutes into added time to score his first goal for the club in 17 games, dating back to October 4, 2025. Barcelona regained the lead in the 49th minute when Robert Lewandowski’s effort off the post found the net. Yet Gonzalo Garcia equalized for Madrid three minutes later after a scramble in the box, with Barca manager Flick controversially disputing the half-time whistle.
The match saw further drama as Frenkie de Jong received a straight red card in stoppage time for a lunging challenge on Kylian Mbappe, who had come on as a substitute following a knee injury. Late opportunities at both ends kept fans on edge, with Marcus Rashford firing wide for Madrid and Alvaro Carreras and Raul Asencio both unable to beat Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
Despite the nervy finale, Barcelona held on to lift the trophy for the first time consecutively since 2011.
Barca’s impressive start to 2026
The win extends Barcelona’s winning streak to 10 matches, their last defeat coming in November against Chelsea in the Champions League. They have also remained unbeaten against Spanish sides since October 26, when Real Madrid won at the Bernabeu.
The victory provides the first silverware of what could be a successful season for Flick’s side, who currently lead La Liga by four points over Real Madrid. This final marked the fourth consecutive Clasico in the Spanish Super Cup, with all three of Barcelona’s final wins under Flick coming against Real — two Super Cups and the Copa del Rey. Flick himself maintains a perfect record in finals, now eight wins in eight appearances, including five with Bayern Munich.
Real Madrid’s season continues to show inconsistencies, with just four wins in their last six La Liga matches. Questions about Xabi Alonso’s future have emerged amid underwhelming performances in both domestic and European competitions, although a recent five-game winning streak had temporarily eased the pressure. This defeat, however, could reignite scrutiny on the coach.
The four-team Spanish Super Cup has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020, and the Spanish Football Federation has extended the hosting deal through 2029.
