Related Articles
With a convincing 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Barcelona has captured their first trophy of the year and is the 2023 champion. Barça defeated their primary opponents and won the first championship of Xavi Hernández’s managerial career by being the superior team for nearly the entire El Clásico, creating large opportunities and being incredibly effective in front of goal.
In the Supercopa de Espana final of 2022–23, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3 0 and won their first trophy under Xavi’s leadership.Both teams had opportunities in the opening 30 minutes, but typically productive strikers Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski were unable to take advantage of them.
In the 33rd minute, Gavi scored the game’s first goal after converting a beautiful feed from Lewandowski.Just before halftime, the Pole increased Barca’s lead by capitalising on a Real mistake in the middle of the field.In the 69th minute, Pedri scored his team’s third goal, capping a deadly counterattack by converting a cross from Gavi.In the 93rd minute, Real’s Benzema scored a late consolation goal, but it was far too late to save the defeat.
Barcelona and Real Madrid Match over View
Barcelona beat arch rivals Real Madrid 3-1 in the Spanish Super League Cup final. The King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh was the site of the game, and 18-year-old Gavi gave Barcelona the victory. For Barcelona, Gavi, Lewandowski, and Pedri scored goals. Since Xavi became the team’s coach, Barca has not won a championship.
Gavi’s performance was excellent throughout the match. Along with scoring the game’s opening goal, the Spain midfielder also created the space for the subsequent two goals. First-half dominance by Barca led to a second-half victory.
Barcelona dominated in every aspect of the game. Capitalized on the mistakes made by Real. In the 33rd minute, Barca scored its first goal . Sergio Buscua started the move and Gavi scored with a left-footed shot. Lewandowski converted a powerful feed from Gavi after 12 minutes. Real Madrid, who could not shoot any shots on goal in the first half, was trying to avoid a huge defeat in the second half.
In the 69th minute, Pedri completed Barca’s tally with a pass from Gavi, who latched onto a ball dropped by Real substitute Dani Ceballos. Karim Benzema scored Real’s consolation goal in extra time (92nd minute).
Both the teams reached the final after overcoming the pressure of the penalty shootout. In the semifinals, Barca overcame Real Betis and Real Valencia. The two teams had previously met in July last year. Royal won by three goals against one that day
FIRST HALF
From the start, Barça was the superior team. They possessed organisation, commitment, intensity, maturity, and self-assurance in possession and played excellent team defence. The first significant chance for the Blaugrana came on a rocket from Robert Lewandowski that Thibaut Courtois diverted into the post, and Alejandro Balde nearly missed the goal on the rebound.
After Ferland Mendy’s cross found Karim Benzema all alone inside the box, Madrid had one chance, but the striker missed an easy header that would have been the game’s first goal. Los Blancos’ sole tense moment turned out to be that one, as Barça dominated the rest of the session.
The first goal was the consequence of the Catalans’ persistent pressure high up the field after Sergio Busquets won the ball back, Pedri passed it to Lewandowski, who moved it swiftly to Gavi inside the box. The youngster had wonderful poise to utilise his left foot and blast it past Courtois.
Just before halftime, Frenkie De Jong delivered a brilliant, line-breaking pass to find Gavi alone on the left flank. Once again, Gavi was collected and poised to wait for the correct opportunity to throw the ball to Lewandowski for an easy tap-in for the second.
SECOND HALF
Madrid began the half with a significantly different level of pushing, seeking to win the ball back as soon as they could in risky situations after Carlo Ancelotti took Rodrygo off the bench. Madrid’s first surge of enthusiasm quickly faded as they failed to put together any significant assaults against a solid Barça defensive system because Barça maintained its composure and minimised their mistakes in possession.
Forward, the Blaugrana remained a danger thanks to Lewandowski and Dembélé, who made Courtois make crucial stops. With 20 minutes left, Barça scored the crucial third goal as they once again reclaimed the ball in the Madrid half. Gavi provided his second assist of the game with a pinpoint cross that found Pedri unmarked and able to touch it in at the far post.
After the third goal, Madrid appeared beaten, and Ancelotti tried to reinvigorate the team’s offence by making more aggressive substitutions, but this left the team’s midfield weaker and its defence more exposed. Although they did have a few promising chances and Marc-André ter Stegen made crucial stops, Barça never really faced a serious threat as the game approached its conclusion.
Benzema ultimately scored a consolation goal for Los Blancos in the dying seconds of play, but it was too little, too late. Shortly thereafter, the final horn sounded, and Barça won their first championship of the year.
A extremely focused, mature, and intense squad that outperformed their rivals in every area put on a fantastic all-around performance. Barça defeated Madrid to win the title, as they deserved to accomplish. Such a lovely Sunday.
Additional crucial considerations
• The winner of the Copa del Rey and the Spanish league champion used to compete in the Super Cup. Now both tournaments’ runners-up take part as well.
• As the league’s winner and runner-up, respectively, Madrid played.
• The Super Cup will continue to be played in Saudi Arabia through the 2024–25 season under the present deal.
