Real Madrid missed a golden opportunity to add another trophy to their cabinet since Xabi Alonso took charge as head coach. Despite triumphing in the first El Clásico of the La Liga season, Los Blancos fell short on the stage of silverware, succumbing 3–2 to long-time rivals Barcelona. However, Alonso is keen not to exaggerate the significance of the defeat and is instead urging his squad to focus on improvement.
The clash, held last night in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, saw Real struggle for large periods against a dominant Barcelona side. The match exposed several weaknesses in Madrid’s play: the attack was largely toothless aside from Vinícius Júnior’s flashes of brilliance, the midfield lacked cohesion, and the defence appeared fragile.
Yet, Alonso remains undeterred. In his post-match comments, he described the Super Cup encounter as the “least important” match of the season. “We need to turn the page as quickly as possible. This is just one match, one competition, and among all the games we face, it is the least important. Our focus is on looking forward, bringing players back to full strength, and rebuilding morale,” he said.
The coach emphasised the positives that can be drawn from the defeat. “It is a competition where we faced two strong opponents in quick succession during the mid-season. We take the positives and are preparing for the next challenge,” Alonso added.
Vinícius Júnior was a standout performer for Real, netting an equaliser after Raphinha’s opener for Barcelona. Until his substitution, he remained a constant threat down the flank, with most of Real’s attacking play coming through him. His early exit surprised some observers, though Alonso revealed that fatigue, exacerbated by high humidity, prompted the Brazilian to request a substitution.
Alonso praised Vinícius, stating: “He played brilliantly until the 85th minute. Fatigue made him want to come off. He changed the game with his movement and scored a wonderful goal. From his side, we generated significant threats. While the result is disappointing, there are positives for the season, and regaining our key players is now crucial.”
Real created several scoring chances late in the match. Alonso highlighted the team’s resilience: “In the final 15 minutes, we had many opportunities. The team showed determination throughout. We were level 2–2 at half-time, and the second half remained highly competitive and exciting. Unfortunately, they scored a fortunate goal where there seemed to be no real chance, despite our efforts to equalise.”
With this Super Cup defeat, Real Madrid remains four points behind Barcelona in La Liga. Alonso continues to face scrutiny over his coaching, with debates ongoing about his future amid the season’s midpoint pressures.
Match Summary: Real Madrid vs Barcelona – Super Cup
| Team | Score | Goalscorers | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 2 | Vinícius Júnior (1) | Strong attacking flashes, defensive issues |
| Barcelona | 3 | Raphinha (1), 2 others | Dominated large periods of play |
| Venue | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | High humidity affected player stamina | |
| Key Player | Vinícius Júnior | Substituted 85’ due to fatigue |