Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-1 to win the Spanish Super Cup for the first time since the competition was remodeled and relocated to Saudi Arabia. Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, and Pedri each scored a goal on Sunday at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh to win Barcelona its first Super Cup championship since 2018 and its first since the tournament’s Final-Four format began in 2020. This was a profitable arrangement for the Spanish football organization.
It was also Barcelona’s first championship since Xavi took over as coach in 2021 and Lionel Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain. Gavi scored from close range in the 33rd minute after receiving a ball from Lewandowski, and Gavi assisted Lewandowski on a breakaway goal shortly before the end of the first half. Gavi again assisted Pedri’s goal from close range on another breakaway in the 69th minute. Karim Benzema scored a consolation for Madrid late in stoppage time. Since 2014, this was Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti’s first loss in a final. Barcelona has won the Super Cup a record-setting fourteen times. Madrid has 12 goals to their credit. Barca captain Sergio Busquets stated, “We knew it was a gamble we had to take, we have gone through a period of transition at the club and in the locker room, and this will encourage us to continue competing for more trophies.” “You are aware of how [Gavi] competes, despite his youth. Most players his age would be on the youth squad, however he is performing at a phenomenal level, providing assists and scoring goals.
Madrid defeated Barcelona in the semi-finals of last year’s championship, but the two Spanish powerhouses had never played in the final of the restructured league. Historically, the Super Cup featured the Spanish league champion and the Copa del Rey champion. Now, the runners-up from both events are also included. The league champion was Madrid, and the league runner-up was Barcelona. The current Super Cup deal in Saudi Arabia runs through the 2024-25 season.
