Monday 15 January 2024
Final: La Supercopa de España
PJCC+JXP, King Saud University, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia
Real Madrid Vs FC Barcelona
REAL MADRID BEAT BARCELONA
FOR FIRST TROPHY OF 2024
Nacho Fernandez and his team lift the Spanish
Super Cup after the Madristas won the final.
MATCH PREVIEW:
One of the biggest rivalries in world football, El Clásico,
as Real Madrid face off against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi
Arabia this year. Both teams won their respective games. Barcelona comfortably
saw off CA Osasuna with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Robert Lewandowski and
Lamine Yamal as the holders faced off their arch-rivals once again. Real Madrid
also won their semi-final clash in a fierce 8-goal thriller against their city
rivals, Atlético Madrid. The Los Blancos needed extra time to see off Atlético
Madrid, as they won 5-3 thanks to goals from Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy,
Dani Carvajal, Joselu, and Brahim Díaz for Real, and Mario Hermoso, Antoine Griezmann,
and a Rüdiger own goal. Who will fare out this time? Can Real Madrid get revenge
after they lost last year’s final to Barca, or will the Super Cup holders, win
their 15th Spanish Super Cup and do it again?
TEAM NEWS:
There are 2 changes for Real Madrid from their thrilling 5-3
win over city rivals Atlético Madrid, as Andriy Lunin replaces Kepa
Arrizabalaga in goal and Toni Kroos starts in place of Luka Modric, with the
38-year-old dropping to the bench with the former Athletic Bilbao GK. It is a
4-3-1-2 formation, with Ukrainian Lunin in goal, with Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger,
Nacho Fernandez (C), and Ferland Mendy as the back 4. The midfield trio of Jude
Bellingham, Federico Valverde, and Aurelien Tchouaméni, with Toni Kroos at CAM.
The front two strikers are a Brazilian duo of Rodrygo Silva De Goes and Vinícius
Júnior.
The Real Madrid team prior to kick-off.
For Barcelona, 1 change from their win over Osasuna, with
Pedri coming in for Raphinha, with the Brazilian out injured. A change in
formation for Xavi’s team as he changes to a 4-2-3-1 wide from a 4-3-3 flat.
Iñaki Peña continues to deputise for the injured Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, with a
back four of Ronald Araújo, Jules Koundé, Andreas Christensen and Alejandro
Balde. A holding midfield duo of Ilkay Gündogan and Frenkie De Jong, combined with
an attacking midfield trio of Ferran Torres, Sergi Roberto and Pedri with
Robert Lewandowski the lone man up top.
Barcelona's team prior to kick-off.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Jude Bellingham: This young man has had a phenomenal start
to his life at the white side of Madrid, he has already broken so many records
at this club. He overtook Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most goals scored
in 15 matches, and he has a staggering goal contribution record so far in La Liga. 13 goals and 6 assists from 19 games is something unbelievable that
the 20-year-old Englishman has produced for Real Madrid so far this season. He
has already scored two goals in their previous meeting back in October when he
scored a stoppage-time winner to go with his superb 30-yard strike from
distance. Is he to score or assist today?
Vinícius Júnior: The sensational and superb forward has returned
to the first team after tearing his hamstring in November 2023, but he is back
with the team after 3 months on the sidelines. Can he make an impact in
today’s final by scoring or assisting?
Robert Lewandowski: The 35-year-old Polish striker has been
in good touch with his goals. Following a great first season in which he helped
the Blaugranas win La Liga, is he to score again today in the final and help
his team win their first trophy of 2024?
Lamine Yamal: The 16-year-old academy player has been
superb since getting himself into the first team with injuries to several players,
he has stepped up big time for the Blaugranas and has helped them reach the
final of the Spanish Super Cup. Can he make an impact in today’s final?
KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF
The match begins.
Both teams in their standard first-choice kits, are hoping to win that trophy
to begin their New Year off with a bang. And straight away, inside 7 minutes,
we have the first goal of the game. And of course, it is Vini Júnior. He
collected Jude Bellingham’s pass and scored the first goal of the game by rounding Iñaki Peña following a superb through pass from Bellingham that sliced the Barca defence. And a
special celebration as well from the 23-year-old winger. The number 7, doing what
his idol does every single time, it is the iconic “SUI”. If Cristiano Ronaldo can do
it, so can Vinícius Júnior. Amazing scenes at the King Saud University Stadium, home to Al Nassr, Ronaldo's new club. It is Real Madrid 1 – Barcelona 0.
Vini Jr celebrates after scoring the team's first goal of the final.
What an incredible start this is for the Los Blancos. And 3 minutes later, it was 2-0. And Vinícius Júnior is there again! Vini at the double for Real Madrid!! From Carvajal's beautiful through pass, Rodrygo cuts back for his countryman and teammate, Vinícius Júnior. 2 goals in 3 minutes, putting Real Madrid in total control. Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 0.
Vinícius Júnior scored Real's second goal of the game and his brace to make it 2-0
Barcelona are behind and need to search for answers. They did have a great chance on 12 minutes, when Ferran Torres smashed the bar after collecting the pass from Pedri, and Lewandowski's follow-up shot tipped over the bar by Lunin. And with tackles flying in, chances for both teams, and eventually, Barca got a lifeline on 33 minutes. Balde's cross headed away by the captain, but he could only find Robert Lewandowski whose expert volley, got Barca back into the game. Much needed one this, for the Blaugrana army, who have missed some great chances before this goal. It is Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 1. It is game on in Riyadh.
Lewandowski's volley got Barca a way back into the game.
And minutes later, Real Madrid got a penalty. As the cross was floated in from Carvajal, Ronald Araújo dragged down Vinícius Júnior in the penalty area. As result of this, the 23-year-old Uruguayan was booked and hence a penalty was awarded to Real Madrid. The man to take, Vinícius Júnior. A slow stutter and he fires in the penalty!! A FIRST HALF HAT-TRICK FOR VINI JR!! IT'S ONLY HIS SECOND CAREER HAT-TRICK WITH THE LOS BLANCOS! No problems from the spot, despite Spaniard Peña going the right way, in which the penalty was taken. Real Madrid 3 - Barcelona 1. And it is all going the way of the Madristas at the moment.
Vinícius Júnior converted his penalty to make it 3-1 to Real Madrid at HT.
After that first-half brilliance from Vinícius Júnior, yellow cards were given to Sergi Roberto (dissent for the penalty protest against Barcelona) and Jude Bellingham (fouling Pedri after initial advantage was given) before half-time and Pedri very nearly got their second, but his 20-yard strike, just wide of the goal after Lunin punched away Ilkay Gündogan's corner.
Half-Time at the King Saud University Stadium, with the Los Blancos in full control of the game. They dominated right from the beginning and can they continue that going into the second half?
KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF
Ilkay Gündogan kicks off, as Barcelona start the second half, knowing that they need to score two goals to force extra-time or 3 goals to complete a stunning comeback for the Blaugrana. Do they have what it takes? After the opening exchanges of the second half, Real had a chance to make it 4-1 on 53 minutes. Gündogan dispossessed by Bellingham, who linked up with Vini Jr, tried to cross for the Brazilian, but Jules Koundé was there to prevent the Madristas from scoring. A very good chance not taken properly by Vinícius Júnior and Barca escape that scare.
Having seen that his team aren't clicking in the second half, Xavi throws in a triple substitution. Fermín López, João Félix & Lamine Yamal all come in for Pedri, Sergi Roberto and Ferran Torres. And on 64 minutes, the game was wrapped up as Real scored their 4th of the night. Rodrygo and Valverde were involved in the move, where the cross came to Vinícius Júnior, whose pass tried to find Bellingham, but it ricochets towards the 22-year-old Brazilian, who made light work of the finish. A phenomenal performance from the Los Blancos continued to go on.
Rodrygo's finish made it 4-1 to Real Madrid on 64 minutes.
And 7 minutes later, Barca's evening went from bad to worse. Once again it was Ronald Araújo dragging down Vinícius Júnior. And this time, the Uruguayan gets his marching orders. A second yellow card, which leaves Barcelona down to 10 men with the final 20 minutes left to play. That was enough for referee Juan Martinez to award a red card, following his yellow card earlier in the first half.
Araújo received his marching orders on 71 minutes, leaving the Blaugrana down to 10 men.
Chances came for both teams with the final substitutions made, especially a standing ovation for Vinícius Júnior, as he is subbed out and is replaced by Eduardo Camavinga for the final few minutes, alongside Dani Ceballos and Joselu, who replace, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham.
AND THAT IS THAT AFTER THE 90 MINUTES!! REAL MADRID SECURE THEIR FIRST PIECE OF SILVERWARE OF 2024. They totally dominated their rivals from the outset and maintained it throughout the game! Well played, Real Madrid! And congratulations on your 13th Spanish Supercrup triumph!
MAN OF THE MATCH: Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior.
Following his first-half hat-trick, Vinícius Júnior recieves the player of the match.
What more can you say about this winger? He played so well today, timing his runs to perfection and left the defenders stranded, and most importantly, he took the chances and converted them. Brilliantly played and can he help Real Madrid retain La Liga?
POST-MATCH PICTURES:
Jude Bellingham does his iconic pose with Joselu as he celebrates his team's 4-1 win.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti and President Florentino Perez shake hands after the win
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