Barcelona comfortably beat Real Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup
Barcelona recorded a 3-1 win over Real Madrid in El Clasico to secure the Spanish Super Cup for the 14th time in their history.
Xavi’s team beat Real Betis in the semi-finals to progress to Sunday’s showpiece event, while Real Madrid, who had an extra day of rest, navigated their way past Valencia in the final four.
Barcelona proved to be far too strong for their bitter rivals in the final, though, with Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri on the scoresheet in a comfortable success for the Catalan giants.
Barcelona had a half-chance in the sixth minute of the contest when Ronald Araujo threw himself at a clever free kick from Gavi, but the centre-back just could not make contact on the ball.
Lewandowski was next to come close, as the Poland international flicked a header over the Real Madrid crossbar in the 11th minute, with Barcelona taking control of the contest early on.
Thibaut Courtois then made a stunning save to keep out a low drive from Lewandowski, with the striker’s effort being pushed onto the post before Alejandro Balde smashed the rebound into the side netting.
Real Madrid’s first chance of the match came in the 18th minute when Ferland Mendy delivered a brilliant cross onto the head of Karim Benzema, but the forward’s effort was just wide of the post
Barcelona took the lead in the 33rd minute of the contest, with Gavi expertly controlling a quick pass from Lewandowski before firing the ball past Courtois in the Real Madrid goal.
Xavi’s side then doubled their advantage just before the interval; Gavi was the provider for Lewandowski on this occasion, with the 18-year-old sliding a low cross into the forward, who simply could not miss.
Ousmane Dembele had a brilliant chance to make it 3-0 to Barcelona early in the second half when Balde broke down the left before picking out the Frenchman, but his effort was kept out by Courtois.
Real Madrid’s goalkeeper was again called into action to keep out a strike from Lewandowski in the 54th minute, but Xavi’s team ended any hopes of a Los Blancos comeback when they scored a third in the 69th minute.
Gavi was again the provider, delivering a cross into Pedri, who tapped home at the far post, with Real Madrid all over the place at the back.
Marco Asensio tested Marc-Andre ter Stegen with a powerful strike in the 73rd minute, before the Barcelona goalkeeper was called into action to keep out an effort from Rodrygo five minutes later.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side had more of the ball in the latter stages, and they managed a late consolation through Benzema, who converted from inside the box, but it was a lacklustre performance from the reigning Spanish and European champions, who have now lost two of their last three matches.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are unbeaten in all competitions since the end of October, when they suffered a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Both sides will now switch their attention to the Copa del Rey, with Barcelona facing Ceuta in the round of 16 on Thursday, while Real Madrid will take on fellow La Liga outfit Villarreal on the same night.
