Barcelona 3 Real Madrid 2 — Raphinha wins battle of the Brazilians, has Alonso done enough to stay?
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Dermot Corrigan
Barcelona took the bragging rights against Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana final, but what does it mean for Alonso's future?
There was a crucial double scored by Raphinha, a dribble from the halfway line as Vinicius Junior scored and two truly bizarre goals — but at the end of it, Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 in the Supercopa de Espana final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Barca started stronger, and Raphinha had actually put a golden opportunity wide in the 35th minute before his opener moments later. Madrid were on the back foot, but Vinicius Jr drew them level after that fine run in the 47th minute, beating three Barca players before finishing past goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Barca responded almost instantly, with Robert Lewandowski chipping over Thibaut Courtois two minutes later following a threaded pass from Pedri.
Yet it was 2-2 at the break after Dean Huijsen’s header struck the bar and Gonzalo Garcia reacted fastest, deflecting the ball in off the woodwork to score for Madrid.
Vinicius Jr looked lively as the second half began, forcing Joan Garcia into a save in the 52nd minute before setting up Brazil team-mate Rodrygo in the 63rd minute as part of a flowing move that drew another stop from the Barca ‘keeper. But Raphinha was the Brazilian who stole the show with his 73rd-minute effort, which came as he slipped and his shot deflected off Raul Asencio.
There was still time for a Frenkie de Jong red card after 90 minutes for lunging in on substitute Kylian Mbappe, before Alvaro Carreras saw his chance aimed straight at Garcia. It was a chaotic end but the game ended 3-2, with Hansi Flick’s team taking the bragging rights over Xabi Alonso’s side.
Here, Dermot Corrigan breaks down another crazy Clasico.
Has Alonso done enough to stay?
Barcelona were clearly Spain’s best team last season, with Flick’s side winning all four Clasicos and all three domestic competitions.
Alonso winning his first Clasico in charge of Real Madrid in October suggested that things might be changing, although Barca could point to an injury list including tonight’s goalscorers, Raphinha and Lewandowski, as a factor in their 2-1 defeat at the Bernabeu.
Since then, Alonso’s project at Madrid have run into some serious problems, and it seemed that club president Florentino Perez was losing patience and close to wielding the axe.
There had been a feeling around the club that a heavy defeat for Madrid tonight could spell the end of Alonso’s time as coach, but their performance shows that the former Liverpool and Madrid midfielder deserves more time to put his stamp on the team.
Through the autumn, there were regular murmurs from the Madrid dressing room that various stars were unhappy with Alonso, but the team’s performances in big games recently have suggested they remain behind him. There was no lack of effort from Madrid’s biggest players tonight, with Vinicius Jr giving his best performance in months.
During the frantic final stages, Madrid pushed for an equaliser that would have sent the game to a penalty shootout. Carreras and Raul Asencio had golden chances right at the end, but they sent their efforts too close to Garcia. Those small details decided a game that could have gone either way.
Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia reacts after saving from Raul Asencio in the 95th minute (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
The feeling at full time on Sunday was that this was similar to November’s Champions League defeat against Manchester City — Madrid battled hard, but lost out in a relatively close battle to a better team who have had more time to gel together. Alonso is also dealing with another run of injuries — Mbappe and half his first-choice defence were not fit enough to contribute properly here.
It is always difficult to predict what Perez will do, but Alonso now looks likely to still be in charge when the next Clasico comes around in La Liga in May. Barca have won the first trophy of the Spanish season, and are still favourites for the others, but Madrid are more competitive this season than 12 months ago.
What on earth happened in that first half?
Considering how the first half finished — with three goals in six minutes — the game began with a surprisingly slow rhythm.
Alonso’s defensive setup was reminiscent of his playing days at Madrid, when Jose Mourinho was coach at the Bernabeu and the team learned to sit deep and stifle Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona side.
Madrid left-back Carreras was fortunate not to be booked, or even sent off, for a crude stamp on Lamine Yamal around the 20-minute mark (below), but Alonso’s team looked comfortable, and had chances to go ahead through Vinicius Jr and Gonzalo.
Everything then changed after the drinks break 30 minutes in. For the first time in the game, Barca got behind the Madrid defence, but Raphinha pulled his shot wide.
The Brazilian made no mistake just a few minutes later, when Fermin Lopez’s through ball put him into space behind Asencio, and this time he arrowed a low shot past Courtois and inside the far post.
Madrid seemed in trouble, but they soon hit back themselves in first-half stoppage time.
Gonzalo led a counter-attack and played the ball wide to Vinicius Jr near the halfway line out wide. There still did not seem to be too much danger for Barcelona, but the Brazilian ran at Jules Kounde, backing his marker towards the Barcelona penalty area.
Arriving there, Vinicius Jr flicked the ball between Kounde’s legs, skipped past Pau Cubarsi, and made space to place a shot past Garcia and inside the far post. It capped a spectacular move and the Brazil forward celebrated wildly — it was his first goal in 17 games for Madrid, stretching back to October.
Two of the three added minutes had already been played when Barcelona restarted the game, and Madrid immediately lost focus.
Pedri carried the ball forward without any pressure, and played a pass forward to Lewandowski, who had drifted unmarked between Huijsen and Aurelien Tchouameni. Courtois raced from his line to narrow the angle, but Lewandowski showed his tremendous striker’s instinct to flick the ball past the hurtling Madrid keeper.
Madrid’s players felt that half-time should already have been called, but they did not complain when the officials allowed one more attack after the restart.
Alonso’s team won a corner, which Rodrygo lofted into the centre. Huijsen climbed highest for a header that Raphinha nudged onto the crossbar. The rebound landed at the feet of Gonzalo, who, despite falling to the ground in a battle with Pedri, managed to hook the ball goalwards. It hit the crossbar again, but dropped inside the net with more than 52 minutes played. Now it was Barca who were complaining about timekeeping.
After a first half-hour that had more tactical interest than clear goalscoring opportunities, El Clasico had burst into life with a flurry of goals, but it was still all to play for.
Raphinha beats Vinicius Jr in battle of the Brazilians
Alonso’s tactical setup for the game often made Vinicius Jr into Madrid’s most prominent forward, and his first involvement came early on, when he skipped past Cubarsi by the touchline and sprinted free into the Barca half. It looked like an excellent opportunity, but the 25-year-old snatched at it, shooting very early from an angle and making it too easy for Garcia to save.
Such lack of belief was no surprise given Vinicius Jr’s recent struggles in front of goal — a barren run stretching back to early October, 19 games for club and country before this Clasico, a period during which his future under Alonso has become increasingly uncertain.
Even so, his phenomenal solo goal just before half-time showed just what Vinicius Jr can do when he is on form. For a spell after the break, the Brazilian showed supreme confidence and purpose, with his regular direct runs at the Barca defence causing havoc.
It seemed like this could be another Supercopa final in which Vinicius Jr — who wore the captain’s armband after Federico Valverde went off injured — proved his worth to everyone inside and outside Madrid. He scored a hat-trick in the 2024 Supercopa against Barca.
But Sunday’s game remained in the balance, going through a scrappy period with fouls and substitutions breaking up the rhythm, before Barca seized control thanks to a different Brazilian.
Raphinha’s shot from the edge of the box was not perfectly struck, but it took a big deflection off Asencio, who could have been tighter to the forward. The ball changed direction and wrong-footed Courtois.
That meant two goals for Barcelona’s No 11, which followed another double in the 5-0 semi-final win against Athletic Club in midweek. Raphinha was also MVP in last year’s Supercopa final, with two goals and an assist in the 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in the final.
Perhaps the former Leeds United forward does not have the profile of some other players, and has not been given the recognition he believes he deserves at award ceremonies, such as the Ballon d’Or or FIFA’s The Best.
Both Brazilians really shone tonight, but it was Barca’s who took the honours.
What did Flick say?
“I am proud,” Flick told his post-match press conference. “In the first half, we played really fantastically. We kept the ball, we controlled the ball, the game. At the end, in the whole game we played our style and of course they have quality. At the end, with one player less it was not easy but we were fighting together, as a team, and this is really great to see.”
On Raphinha’s influence, the German added: “His mentality is unbelievable. His dynamic affects the whole team. He missed the first chance, but with the second one he was there and got the first goal. He gave the team more confidence. What he brings on the pitch is a lot of intensity and we need this.”
Flick was also asked about Ronald Araujo, who made his first appearance after returning from a period of leave agreed with the club.
“To be on the pitch and also to win the title means a lot for him,” Flick said. “I am happy that he is back and he is OK. We will support him always. It’s important because he is a fantastic guy but an important player for us. He’s also very important in the dressing room… He is one of our captains and I am really happy for that.”
What did Alonso say?
Asked on Movistar TV whether the defeat hurt more because of only losing by one goal, Alonso said: “It hurts either way, but it’s clear that it was an even match, very competitive, with moments for both sides and exciting. You’re left with the feeling that we had two clear chances and were close to equalising.
“The team fought hard throughout, they competed. The second half was very competitive, very close, and they were lucky with that (Raphinha) goal. It wasn’t to be.”
Alonso, who added that Vinicius Jr was “unstoppable”, was also asked what Madrid would do now.
“Turn the page as soon as possible,” he said. “It’s one game, and it’s the least important competition we have. Now we have to look ahead, get people back, and get our spirits back.”
“Losing a final against your rival is never pleasant,” Courtois told Movistar. “We’re sad today, but tomorrow we’ll get back to work for the cup and the league. We deserved to win in the second half, but the details were against us today. Today we showed that we’re a lively team, especially in the second half. I’m sure we’ll win something.”
What next for Barcelona?
Thursday, January 15: Racing Santander (Away), Copa del Rey, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
What next for Real Madrid?
Wednesday, January 14: Albacete (Away), Copa del Rey, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
