Barcelona narrowly defeated Real Madrid in a five-goal thriller to claim back-to-back Spanish Super Cup finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The victory marked a 16th title in the tournament for Hansi Flick’s side, who also overcame Los Blancos in last year’s final.
Brazilian forward Raphinha’s floated shot in the 73rd minute proved decisive after a frenetic first half.
Three rapid goals in first-half stoppage time brought the teams level at halftime, following Raphinha’s opener, a low drive into the bottom corner in the 36th minute.
Vinicius Jr equalised two minutes into added time, nutmegging Jules Kounde on a brilliant run before sliding the ball into the far corner, scoring his first Real goal in 17 games since 4 October, 2025.
Robert Lewandowski restored Barca’s lead in the 49th minute, clipping the ball in off the post.
Gonzalo Garcia then equalised three minutes later after a scramble in the box saw Dean Huijsen’s header hit the bar, as Barca manager Flick protested that the half-time whistle should have already blown.
Frenkie de Jong received a straight red card in stoppage time for a lunging challenge on Kylian Mbappe, who had come on as a substitute after recovering from a knee injury.
Late opportunities at both ends added to the tension, with Marcus Rashford shooting wide when clear, and Alvaro Carreras and Raul Asencio both firing straight at Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
Barcelona held on to claim a second consecutive title for the first time since 2011.
In-form Barca start 2026 with silverware
Barcelona have now won 10 consecutive matches, their last defeat coming in November against Chelsea in the Champions League.
They have not lost to Spanish opposition since 26 October, when Real beat them in El Clasico at the Bernabeu.
This victory provides the first silverware of what could be a productive season for Flick’s side, who currently lead La Liga by four points over Real.
This was the fourth consecutive Clasico in a Super Cup final, and all three of Barca’s wins under Flick have come against Real – two Super Cups and a Copa del Rey.
Flick has now won all eight finals he has been involved in, including five during his time at Bayern Munich.
For Los Blancos, the season has been inconsistent, with four wins in their last six La Liga matches.
This mixed form has fallen short of the club’s high expectations, and questions over Xabi Alonso’s future in Madrid remain. Although recent wins have eased pressure on the Spaniard, this defeat could reignite scrutiny.
The four-team Spanish Super Cup has been hosted in Saudi Arabia since 2020, with the Spanish Football Federation extending the arrangement through 2029.