10 man Barcelona thump Real Madrid in Super Cup Final

Barcelona won a thrilling Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, defeating rivals Real Madrid 5-2. The German coach referred to the outcome as “unbelievable” because it was Barca’s first trophy under her leadership. After Kylian Mbappe gave Madrid the lead, a dominant Barcelona team responded with five goals before Wojciech Szczesny, their goalkeeper, was sent out in the second half.

Madrid was left bruised and beaten by their bitter rivals in Jeddah, where they were seeking to exact revenge for losing to Barcelona 4-0 at home in the October La Liga Clasico. Following Mbappe’s first goal, Robert Lewandowski gave Barcelona the lead from the penalty spot, Raphinha scored twice, and Alejandro Balde also scored. Lamine Yamal then tied the score.

With a free kick, Rodrygo Goes gave Madrid a response, but they were unable to build on their numerical advantage, and the Spanish and European champions suffered a crushing defeat.

“I think today is a good day because we beat one of the best teams in the world, for the second time this season, Real Madrid, and this is unbelievable,” Flick told reporters.

“We won a title here and we are really happy … today is a day to look positively at this team.”

Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, attributed the crushing loss to his team’s subpar defense.

“We defended badly and that cost us the game – they found their goals quite easily,” Ancelotti told Movistar.

“We’re sad, like all our fans, it’s disappointing and we don’t have to hide that … we have to look forwards, there’s nothing else we can do.”

Mbappe’s incredible strike on the counterattack gave Real Madrid the lead in the fifth minute, despite a powerful opening attack from Barcelona.

Vinicius Jr. won the ball back and rushed into the area, clipping past Szczesny before the French forward broke loose on the halfway line. Yamal, a 17-year-old winger from Spain, equalized the score with a spectacular solo goal after cutting in from the right and slotting home a low finish inside the near post.

After Eduardo Camavinga clattered Gavi recklessly, Barcelona continued to press and took the lead through a penalty kick from Lewandowski. Soon after, Raphinha headed in Kounde’s deep cross to give Barcelona their third goal, and they scored their fourth just before halftime. After Yamal and Raphinha joined forces, Balde slid in and slipped past Courtois.

After the interval, Barcelona carried on in the same manner, and Raphinha scored the fifth goal with a deft dribble and finish after Marc Casado had sent him in.

After a VAR review was rejected, Mbappe raced in at the other end and around goalkeeper Szczesny, bringing him down outside the area and reducing the Catalans to 10 men.

Rodrygo, who had already struck the post, hammered the free kick past Inaki Pena, Szczesny’s substitute.

Jude Bellingham was well set up by Mbappe, but a fantastic challenge from Jules Kounde in stoppage time denied the England international. During a brilliant individual effort, the French forward also nearly scored again, but Pena deflected his shot.