That's how it hurts them the most: the immediate aftermath of Barça-Madrid

BarcelonaBarça are Super Cup champions. A second-half goal from Raphinha secured a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in a thrilling final that had everything. Here are some immediate highlights.

The more it hurts Madrid. With ten men after De Jong's dismissal, despite his imperious performance in winning back possession. With Joan Garcia once again the hero, as the opposition poured forward in search of an equalizer and penalties. With the crowd against them because in Saudi Arabia they're quite the Real Madrid fans. With the feeling that when European teams more organized than Madrid emerge, they'll suffer much more than last season. While all of this is true, Flick's Barça remains unchallenged in Spain. And, just like in the last Copa del Rey final, it was with epic flair that they overcame their historic rivals and seized the narrative that Madrid fans have always dominated. This makes them worse than a thrashing. And the best part is that they'll be mistaken and think this defeat strengthens them.

It's not just because he scores goals. Fermín López has earned every right to be considered a starter for Barça. After nearly leaving for Chelsea, the player from El Campillo has put those doubts aside to become Flick's first choice for the attacking midfield position, a role for which Barça spent 50 million euros (and a hefty sum in the boardroom) to sign Dani Olmo. When injuries allow, the Terrassa native often displays his quality, but that's not enough to eliminate Fermín's dominance. He's not only capable of scoring and assisting, but he also tips the scales thanks to a remarkable instinct for detecting and punishing opponents' mistakes. It was his pressure leading up to the first goal of the match, the one that put Madrid on the back foot.

What if he's playing the good guy now? Raphinha broke the deadlock when Barça were at their most disjointed and was also the decisive weapon in regaining the lead at the crucial moment of the second half. The Brazilian has returned from injury and several setbacks with the same aura that made him Barça's most prolific striker last season. Raphinha was not a one-hit wonderRaphinha was the gladiator with enough hunger and experience for Flick's plan to work perfectly. Under the German's guidance, this relatively unknown winger, sculpted by Bielsa at Leeds, is a strong Ballon d'Or contender. He hasn't received enough media attention to break into the 2025 race, but if he continues like this, no one will deny him a place at the same table as Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, or Haaland.

Mourinho in the Basque Country. Heavily criticized after only half a season in the demanding Real Madrid dugout, Xabi Alonso arrived at the Super Cup final with five defenders and a very stingy approach. Pure survival, trying to avoid a humiliating defeat against a Barcelona side far superior in every aspect. The Basque coach made it clear he will draw inspiration from Mourinho, for whom he was the on-field enforcer during those years in the shadow of Messi and Guardiola, to try and usher in a new winning cycle for Barça. Even though Florentino Pérez has built him a team with a hefty transfer budget, he will approach the Clásicos as if he were Bordalás' Getafe. A low block, matches pushing the limits of the rules, and the counter-attack as his only offensive weapon to damage the Barcelona attack. Very poor for a team like Real Madrid, but they'll manage.