How we love to put them through the wringer.
1. Barça won the Saudi Arabian Super Cup (3-2) because they were far superior to Real Madrid, always leading on the scoreboard and showing much greater determination. It's the third consecutive final that Hansi Flick, as Barça coach, has won against their biggest rival. The German coach's 100% win rate in finals remains an unbeatable record. The match won't be remembered for its beautiful football – in fact, until the hydration break in the 33rd minute, it resembled a preseason friendly – but Ronald Araujo lifted the trophy to remind us how much we enjoy making them suffer. The Barça players wanted revenge for their defeat at the Bernabéu, and yesterday, defying fate with a psychedelic jersey, they got it. In a final alongside some of the protagonists.
2. Raphinha was, deservedly, the best player of the tournament. The most valuable player in the semi-final and, once again, the best in the final against Real Madrid. Barça relied on the Brazilian's four goals in two matches, a player who returned to the team when he was most needed. Yesterday he opened the scoring, just a minute after missing the easiest chance of the season. And he sealed the final with a slip, a shot with his right foot that hit his left, deflected off Asensio, and wrong-footed Courtois. These goals count too. And, depending on the circumstances, they're even more exciting.
3. He hasn't even played twenty games for Barça and Joan Garcia has already won his first professional title. Yesterday he didn't keep a clean sheet, but he stopped all seven of Madrid's shots. The last two, in the 95th and 96th minutes, he handled with absolute composure when Carreras and Asensio had everything in their favor to equalize and when the armchair Barça fans were expecting a penalty shootout. On the other side, Vinícius scored. He had gone nineteen games without a goal and it was clear that yesterday he would break the spell. A great goal, yes, but one that was ultimately meaningless. We don't feel sorry for him at all. This Super Cup will only be remembered for Simeone's words:Remember, Florentino is going to sell youFrenkie de Jong was sent off in the 90th minute with a red card. Before that, he had played an impeccable match. He orchestrated play from deep and moved the ball intelligently, leaving the Real Madrid players exhausted. When Pedri was no longer able to speak, De Jong took control.
4. If I were Florentino Pérez, I'd sack Xabi Alonso. Not because we lost to Barça in a match without Mbappé, but because the stingy football played by Real Madrid in the two matches in Saudi Arabia was unprecedented in the last century. Against both Atlético and Barça, Real Madrid were a team camped in defense, very close to their own area, offering nothing in attack and relying on the occasional counter-attack from one of their speedsters. Very little football, and above all, a small-team mentality that a club with so many titles, so much history, and so much pride cannot afford. This performance is worse than losing to Celta and City at the Bernabéu.
5. Iñaki Williams, captain of Athletic Club, uttered the best line about this competition. "That the Super Cup is being played in Saudi Arabia is a load of rubbish." He wasn't so much criticizing the way this country completely disregards fundamental rights, but rather the fact that fans of the four participating teams can't attend and that the matches are played in 30-degree heat. And we could go on listing the grievances. A pitch that's not up to standard, or the mutilation of the crests of both finalist teams. Barça without the Creu de Sant Jordi, Real Madrid without the crown. Former footballer Julio Salinas is starting to promote a fan strike to bring the Super Cup back to Spanish stadiums. However, Rubiales and Piqué have already agreed to it with Saudi Arabia until 2030. King Abdullah has it "tied up tight."