Sports
Report, result and goals as Blaugrana win Spanish Super Cup
Catch up all with all the action from Barcelona vs Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Barcelona won the 2026 Supercopa de Espana after beating Real Madrid 3-2 in a dramatic final that featured five goals, a late red card, and plenty of controversy.
The opening stages followed a familiar pattern, with Barcelona controlling possession and territory while Real Madrid remained compact and looked to counter through Vinicius Junior.
Barcelona’s midfield, led by Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, circulated the ball quickly, forcing Madrid into long defensive spells. By the 20-minute mark, Barcelona had nearly 80 per cent possession, though their dominance had not yet translated into a clear lead.
Barcelona’s first real opening came through Lamine Yamal and Jules Kounde on the right, with several low crosses flashed across the six-yard box.
Robert Lewandowski saw one early chance blocked at the near post, while Raphinha fired over from a promising counter-attack after being played through by Yamal.
The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute. Fermin Lopez intercepted a loose Madrid pass in midfield and immediately threaded a pass through the defensive line for Raphinha.
The winger drove into the box and finished low across Thibaut Courtois into the far corner, giving Barcelona a deserved lead.
Barcelona continued to press for a second, but the closing minutes of the half turned the match on its head.
In second-half stoppage time, Gonzalo Garcia found Vinicius near the halfway line. The forward carried the ball into the area, slipping between defenders before finishing from close range to equalise with Real Madrid’s first sustained attacking move of the match.
Barcelona responded almost immediately. Pedri split the Madrid defence with a precise through ball for Lewandowski, who lifted a composed finish over Courtois to restore the lead lead.
However, the half was not finished. From a corner in the sixth minute of added time, Dean Huijsen’s header struck the woodwork, Raphinha diverted the rebound onto the bar, and Gonzalo Garcia reacted quickest to bundle the ball over the line, making it 2-2 at the interval.
Subdued second-half
The second half opened at a slower tempo, with both sides showing greater caution. Real Madrid threatened early through Vinicius, who forced Joan Garcia into a save before firing over from the rebound.
Barcelona responded through Yamal and Kounde, with Courtois producing a strong save to deny a close-range effort.
Barcelona regained the lead in the 73rd minute. A loose ball on the edge of the area fell to Raphinha after a broken passing move.
His shot took a deflection off Raul Asencio, wrongfooting Courtois and drifting into the net to make it 3-2. It was Raphinha’s second goal of the night and ultimately the deciding moment.
The final stages were marked by rising tension. Frenkie de Jong was sent off in the 91st minute after a two-footed challenge on Mbappe near the touchline, leaving Barcelona to defend their lead with ten men. Madrid committed Courtois forward for set pieces and came close in the final moments when a corner was flicked across goal, but Joan Garcia stepped in to preserve the lead.
