How Barcelona Dominated the 2025 Spanish Super Cup
The triumph in the 2025 Spanish Super Cup was a great way to get the year up and running for Barcelona, another achievement in their storied history, as they trounced their arch-nemesis, Real Madrid, in an exceedingly hot final on January 12, 2025, at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by the score of 5-2.
This victory sealed their 15th Super Cup and extended their domination in this prestigious competition.
Although it is played only by Spanish clubs, the Super Cup’s influence can be felt worldwide, with millions of fans tuning in even from North America. So, if you want accurate and up-to-date information and offers in Canada, check out Bet365 Ontario.
Road to the Final
Barcelona had to overcome the semi-final test of the Athletic Club, which they overcame easily by beating the team 2-0.
Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha were quite instrumental in that game, contributing significantly to this result as they prepare for the last match against Real Madrid.
Conversely, Real Madrid reached the finals with a 3-0 win against Mallorca, underlining the power and solidity of an attack featuring superstars Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Match Summary
On the final match day, Barcelona started off on the wrong foot when Kylian Mbappe nudged “Los Blancos” ahead early in the fifth minute. It seemed like a very promising opening.
However, Barcelona quickly regained its composure. In the 22nd minute, Lamine Yamal equalized, and a penalty by Robert Lewandowski gave Barcelona the lead at 2-1.
Raphinha scored another great header as Jules Kounde made the cross in the 39th minute, making it 3-1 before halftime. The nail-biting first-half end was sealed when Alejandro Balde scored his fourth goal deep in stoppage time.
Then, just after the break, Raphinha scored his second and made it 5-1.
Despite being reduced to ten men following Wojciech Szczesny’s red card for a foul on Mbappe, Barcelona remained firm in keeping a leash on the game tight.
Only a few minutes after the Szczesny dismissal, Rodrygo scored a goal from a free kick for Real Madrid. However, this came too late, as Barcelona remained unbreakable as they waited for the timer to go out and earn their three points.
Key Players and Stats Summary
Barcelona:
- Raphinha had been sublime throughout the tournament and had to be the man to score two crucial goals in the final. He also did well against Athletic Club and contributed much to their semifinal win.
- Lewandowski, as the goal-scorer, was perhaps the most essential figure in this final, especially because he scored from the penalty spot. Experience and finesse have been behind his importance in this tournament so far.
- Yamal: The young forward showed just how ice-blooded he can be, having equalized from Real Madrid, thus proving his worth on the biggest stage.
Real Madrid:
- Mbappe gave Real hope in the game but was contained for most of the night. The seasoned veteran is still one of the most dangerous forwards in football with his speed and skill.
- Rodrygo scored on a free kick after the red card from Szczesny but could do nothing to disturb the solid defensive organization against Barcelona.
- Vinicius was the most dominant player for Madrid in the tournament, but in the final, he could not break through Barcelona’s defense.
Statistics:
The statistics of this match prove that Barcelona was superior in 3 important aspects:
- Possession: They controlled the ball in 60% of the game.
- Shots on Goal: Barcelona had 8 shots on target from 15 while Real Madrid had 10, but they could only get 4 shots on target.
- Corners: Barcelona took 7 corners, whereas Real Madrid had only 3.
Real Madrid was strong during the 2025 Spanish Super Cup final, as that was one tough match. The defeat was particularly disappointing because it was their second consecutive loss to their rivals in the Super Cup final, after winning once in 2024.
Not even an early goal from Mbappe was enough; thus, they couldn’t keep control of the ball; however, this will be a future motivator for improvement.
Barcelona’s decisive victory over Real Madrid in the 2025 Spanish Super Cup final is a testament to their skill level. The team showed both exceptional teamwork and individuality, with Raphinha and Lewandowski standing out. As they celebrate this trophy, fans are left excited about what lies ahead for this year under the coach Hansi Flick.
One thing is for sure, though: this rivalry between the two giants of Spanish football continues to produce thrilling encounters, making each El Clásico not worth missing.