Real Madrid’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti, centre, talks to Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos during the Spain Super Cup final soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said that only Kylian Mbappe turned up for the Spanish Super Cup final while the rest of the team disappointed in their 5-2 defeat against Barcelona.
“You have to defend well to win these games. Barcelona deserved to win, they defended better than us. The team is not looking good, but I’m not going to point the finger at anyone. Mbappe had a good game, he was probably the only one who played well. I’m not going to name names on this, but we were not good from the first minute, and did not perform,” Ancelotti said.
Real started the match on the right foot with Mbappe scoring in the 5th minute to put the Los Blancos in front. From there, Barcelona had the vice grip on the match till goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off for fouling Mbappe. Ultimately, the Catalans won the match and their record-extending 15th trophy as they held on their nerves with 10 men.
After the Mbappe goal in the 5th minute, Lamine Yamal levelled for Barca in the 22nd minute. Striker Robert Lewandowski gave them the lead 14 minutes later from a penalty awarded for Eduardo Camavinga’s foul on Gavi.
Raphinha increased the advantage with a stunning header from a brilliant long cross by Jules Kounde in the 39th minute, and left back Alejandro Balde added a fourth for Barca deep into stoppage time after nine minutes were added to the first half.
Yamal released Raphinha with a precise pass following Real’s miserable corner kick, before the Brazil forward left the ball to Balde who scored with a simple finish.
Real started the second half with Rodrygo hitting the bar, sparking hopes of the hectic clash taking another turn.
But Raphinha quelled any sniff of a comeback when he made it 5-1 three minutes after the break, having slalomed past the Real defence.
Barca were left with 10 men when Szczesny was sent off in the 56th minute and Rodrygo beat substitute keeper Inaki Pena from the resulting free kick.
(With agency inputs)
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