Barcelona defeats Real Madrid in the intense Spanish Super Cup final thanks to two goals from Raphinha

Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-2 in Sunday’s final in Jeddah to win the Spanish Super Cup.

At the end of the first half, there were four goals in a breathless period, making the game at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium a thriller.

Following a scoreless first half, Barcelona gradually took charge before halftime. They were rewarded in the 36th minute when Raphinha charged into the box and put a low drive into the far corner to give his team the lead.

In the second minute of stoppage time in the first half, Real Madrid responded when Vinicius Jr. grabbed the ball close to the midway line, charged down the flank, ducked past two Barcelona defenders, and finished in the far corner with a spectacular solo effort.

Two minutes later, Robert Lewandowski was granted space in the penalty area and finished with a deft chip to restore Barcelona’s advantage, but the frenzy continued just before halftime. The drama of the first half was far from over.

Gonzalo Garcia jumped on the rebound after Raphinha cleared the goal line from a Real corner, but the ball hit the bar and the post before crossing the line, tying the score again as the teams went into halftime.

Raphinha drifted into a dangerous position on the edge of the box and scored again for Barcelona in the 73rd minute. He slipped a little as he pressed the trigger, but his effort went into the net after deflecting off a Real defender and wrong-footed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The temperature on the field increased once more as the ninety-minute mark passed and Barcelona was reduced to ten men following Frenkie de Jong’s dismissal for a foul on Kylian Mbappe.

Barcelona won their 16th Super Cup after Real Madrid put up a fierce fight but was unable to convert their numerical advantage. They came dangerously near when Franco Mastantuono and Alvaro Carreras both had close-range attempts saved by goalkeeper Joan Garcia.