After a spectacular and dramatic final on Sunday, January 11, 2026, FC Barcelona retained their Spanish Super Cup title. By defeating their Madrid rivals 3-2, the Blaugrana confirmed their dominance while Xabi Alonso's future as manager of Real Madrid grew increasingly uncertain.

An initial electric period

The Clasico lived up to all expectations from the outset. True to form, the Catalans immediately imposed a high press, stifling a Real Madrid side that sat deep in a defensive block. Despite Madrid's resistance, the opening goal logically came from Barça's in-form player: Raphinha , who broke the deadlock in the 36th minute (1-0).

Real Madrid's response was immediate. Playing with a five-man defense, Los Blancos relied on individual brilliance. In the 47th minute, Vinícius Júnior sent the stadium into raptures, beating Jules Koundé before bamboozling the Barcelona defense to equalize (1-1).

The match then entered a phase of pure madness before the break:

1. 49th minute: Robert Lewandowski gives Barça the lead again with a pinpoint pass from Pedri (2-1).
2. 51st minute: Young Gonzalo Garcia levels the score from a corner just before the half-time whistle (2-2).

Raphinha's final blow

After the break, the scenario reversed. Paradoxically, Barcelona's switch to a 4-4-2 diamond formation allowed Real Madrid to regain control of the ball. Led by an unstoppable Vinícius on the wing, the Madrid side launched attack after attack, but without managing to find the net.

The turning point of the match came in the 73rd minute. Against the run of play, Raphinha unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box. Unluckily deflected by the young Raul Asensio, the ball ended up in the back of Thibaut Courtois' net (3-2).

A tense end to the match

Despite the sending-off of their captain Frenkie de Jong in the 91st minute, Barcelona held firm. Real Madrid threw everything they had left into the attack, but were thwarted by an imperious Joan Garcia in goal, who made crucial saves in the dying seconds.

The balance sheet: | Team | Score | Scorers | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | FC Barcelona | 3 | Raphinha (36', 73'), Lewandowski (49') | | Madrid | 2 | Vinícius Jr (47'), Gonzalo Garcia (51') |

With this new trophy, FC Barcelona cements its dominance over Spanish football. For Real Madrid, this defeat plunges the club into a crisis of results that considerably weakens Xabi Alonso 's position.