Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final for a second straight year on Sunday night, much to the delight of manager Hansi Flick, who hailed the team’s performance.
The La Liga champions thrashed Athletic Bilbao 5-0 in the semifinal clash in midweek, while Los Blancos sealed a hard-fought 2-1 win over city rivals Atletico Madrid in their own encounter.
However, it was the Blaugrana who marched out of the clash as victors for another season, defeating Madrid by the same scoreline they won the competition last season.
Speaking after the match, Flick who has now won all the eight finals he has managed in his career as a coach, hailed the team’s performance on the big stage.
“We are in a good mood, we have a lot of confidence now. This final was very important for us because against Real Madrid it’s always something special. Again we won a final, and this is fantastic.
“When we are focused, we concentrate and play like we did today, I have a really good feeling with the team, because it’s important”, Flick said.
Raphinha missed a big chance to open the scoring after he was set up by Lamine Yamal, but the Brazilian made no mistake minutes later as he opened scoring for his side.
The game then came to life in first half stoppage-time with three goals scored by both sides.
Vinicius Junior equalized for Madrid, but Robert Lewandowski put Barca ahead before Goncalo Garcia scored again to make the scoreline 2-2 heading into the break.
Raphinha netted the winner in the second half, before Barcelona were reduced to 10 late in the game as Frenkie De Jong was sent off.
They sealed an incredible 3-2 win to mark their 10th consecutive victory in all competitions and a first silverware of 2026.
“His mentality is unbelievable, his dynamic affects the whole team. He missed the first chance but the second one, he was there and (scored) the first goal, and it gave the team more confidence,” the German coach hailed Raphinha’s impact.
“This is what Raphinha brings on the pitch, it’s a lot of intensity and we need this.”
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
