Barcelona emerged victorious from a dramatic and ill-tempered El Clasico, defeating arch-rivals Real Madrid 3-2 to retain the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday night. The match, however, was overshadowed by a moment of madness from Frenkie de Jong, whose late red card for a dangerous tackle on Kylian Mbappé plunged the final into chaos.
De Jong's Moment of Madness
With the clock ticking down in Saudi Arabia, Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong was shown a straight red card for a reckless, studs-up challenge that caught Real Madrid substitute Kylian Mbappé high on the shin. The dismissal forced Barcelona to navigate a nervy stoppage time with only ten men, desperately protecting their slender lead.
On commentary, former England manager Glenn Hoddle did not mince his words, stating that the Barcelona star had clearly "lost his head" when committing the foul. The incident marred what had been a fiercely competitive and entertaining clash between Spain's two footballing giants.
Raphinha Shines in Barca Triumph
Despite the late drama, Barcelona's victory was built on a clinical attacking performance. Brazilian winger Raphinha was the hero, scoring twice to put his side in the driving seat. Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski also found the net, adding Barcelona's second goal in a match that saw momentum swing back and forth.
Speaking after the match, Lewandowski emphasised the significance of the win. "Whenever we beat Real Madrid, it's a big deal," he said. "Sometimes we need more patience, but against Real Madrid you have to be at 100%. We won as a team... The most important thing is that we have another title."
Alonso's Pride and Frustration for Real
For Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, the defeat brought "mixed feelings." While proud of his team's effort, he was left frustrated by fine margins. "We are proud for having competed and disappointed for losing in a hard-fought final," Alonso admitted. "The team showed great attitude and commitment but we lacked the precision."
He reserved special praise for Vinicius Junior, who was "so dangerous" throughout, and explained that Mbappé was only used late on as a planned impact substitute because he was not ready to start. Alonso concluded by insisting his team must now "forget about the Super Cup" and focus on the remainder of the season.
The victory secures the first silverware of the Spanish season for Barcelona, providing a significant psychological boost in their eternal rivalry with Real Madrid, albeit in a match that will be remembered as much for its fiery conclusion as for its football.
