Real Madrid secures Spanish Super Cup victory with Vinicius Jr’s first-half hat-trick against Barcelona.
The winger netted twice within the opening 10 minutes, securing control for Carlo Ancelotti’s team in Saudi Arabia.
Despite a stunning volley from Robert Lewandowski that pulled one back for Barca, Vinicius extended Real Madrid’s lead with a 39th-minute penalty.
Rodrygo added a fourth in the second half, compounding Barca’s misery as Ronald Araujo received a red card. Celebrating his opener with Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘SIU’ goal celebration inside Al Nassr’s King Saud University Stadium, Vinicius marked his return from a November hamstring injury.
He said: “The celebration was dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo, because he is my idol and now he plays here.”
Securing their third consecutive El Clasico triumph, Real Madrid notched their 13th Super Cup victory, trailing just one behind Barcelona’s record of 14 wins.
The opening goal saw Jude Bellingham’s pivotal role, delivering a precise pass behind Barcelona’s high defensive line for Vinicius to exploit, rounding goalkeeper Inaki Pena for a clinical finish.
Three minutes later, Rodrygo expertly timed his run, exposing Xavi’s side and providing a cross for Vinicius to slide in at the back post.
Despite Barcelona’s response and Alejandro Balde’s cross leading to Lewandowski’s first-time finish, the momentum shifted when the referee deemed Vinicius was fouled by Araujo in the box just minutes later.
Complaints from Barca were ignored and the 23-year-old Brazil international confidently slotted home the spot-kick to complete his second Madrid hat-trick.
With Barca throwing players forward to try and get back into the match after half-time, Madrid continued to threaten on the break and Rodrygo capitalised on some sloppy defending to stroke in the fourth.
It got worse for Barcelona as Araujo’s frustrations got the better of him and he scythed down Vinicius to earn himself a second yellow card with 20 minutes remaining.
Bellingham had a shot cleared off the line as Madrid went in search of a fifth but Barca avoided any further punishment in the closing stages.
“We have not shown the level required for a match like this,” Barcelona Xavi said.
“We played our worst game. We weren’t comfortable at any point. Madrid hurt us on the counter. I apologise to the fans because it was hard for us to compete and we showed our worst side.”