Raphinha makes Barça super champions against a lacklustre Real Madrid

This is not something for Madrid fans to be happy about; rather, it leaves them with the same doubts they had when the team arrived in Saudi Arabia. A 3-2 defeat to Barça in the Spanish Super Cup final is always a bad result. And even more so when the Whites have lost three of the four finals they have played. That Barça team led by Xavi, which left Jeddah with green shoots, was a mirage of how not to celebrate a defeat. Neither was Real Madrid, which played the game Barça forced it to play and when Vinicius wanted. And that's not why they signed Xabi Alonso.

The Tolosa native's approach left Flick uncomfortable in the opening minutes of the match. Tchouaméni was a midfielder in attack and a centre-back in defence. Asencio was a wing-back, as was Carreras, which allowed Vinicius to fulfil his dream of not having to defend. Those minutes were all about total control by both teams and not wanting to make mistakes. It was reminiscent of those Guardiola-Mourinho duels where no one did anything that wasn't in the script. The problem with playing like that is that Barça always wins. Order is their style, while Madrid reigns in confusion.

Vinicius once again dominated his wing against a Koundé who was ineffective in terms of speed. A burst of speed from the Brazilian left him alone in front of Joan García, but he shot straight at the keeper. The second chance fell to Gonzalo, who also sent the ball straight at the keeper. But the third chance fell to Raphinha, who took on Tchouaméni and placed a precise shot into the corner that Courtois could not reach. The half-time score was 1-0, until chaos broke out. Vinicius made his second run down the wing to beat two Barça defenders and equalise. Without interruption and with extra time running out, Lewandowski chipped a pinpoint ball for the 2-1 against the passivity of Huijsen, who played poorly and was injured. In added time, a header from the centre-back himself from a corner ended up on the crossbar and in a scramble that Gonzalo managed to finish off for 2-2. The youth player is too reminiscent of Raúl. So much so that it is not good for his teammates for him to play too much at the Bernabéu because his dedication, his runs and, at times, his desperation at the wandering of the rest, cause the boos directed at the team to rise in decibels. 

A draw at half-time and time for Flick and Xabi to reorganise their teams. The German had it easy and didn't change a thing, but at Madrid, the injuries are piling up even in the run-up to the match, with Güler moving to the bench to make way for Gonzalo. 

The second half was dominated by both sides. Real Madrid's bursts of energy and some timid pressure from Valverde to wake up the team were mixed with Barça's very slow play led by Pedri. Courtois saved the team with a shot from Koundé in the six-yard box, but the attack was not firing on all cylinders with Vinicius unable to get his dribbles going. The Whites' attack depends on the accuracy of Mbappé, who remained on the bench, and little else, as Alonso has not found a formula to get Real Madrid to score more goals.

The Whites' defence was already back in their own area when Barça had the ball. No one was pushing forward and Raphinha smelled blood. The Brazilian's fourth goal in the competition was an easy shot for Courtois, but it ended up hitting Asencio and changing direction. That goal in the 75th minute did not sink Madrid, but it did lead to Barça hijacking the ball, much to the Whites' despair. Mastantuono came off tired again, Güler crossed perfect balls that left Carreras and Asencio with the equaliser in their heads and at their feet, and Ceballos has not lost any quality, but he does not improve the team. Added to this, Dani Olmo and Ferran came on to give their team a boost without lowering the level. Only De Jong took a risk with a nasty tackle on Mbappé that earned him a red card a few minutes from the end, with Real Madrid looking for the equaliser. The final ended with a tight score and a lot of excitement. Mbappé played little, but his knee pain did not worsen. The trip to Saudi Arabia was more to intimidate with his presence than to score goals.

The Super Cup final leaves Barça with a title, the Clásico won and improved chances of winning La Liga because whoever wins this title does not usually fail. Madrid is left with all the doubts in the world. Vinicius does not want to defend and Alonso has to find a plan for him so that goals do not depend on Mbappé because Gonzalo will return to the bench.

He may have credit for the rest of the season if there is no repeat of a resounding defeat that upsets the president, who, incidentally, attended the final but made sure to put Arabs in between them to avoid exchanging a single word with Joan Laporta, his new worst enemy.