It was the battle of the Brazilian wingers in Jeddah, but ultimately, Raphinha stole the headlines to secure the Spanish Super Cup for Barcelona.
With a match-winning brace in a thrilling El Clasico, Raphinha’s decisive strike, a deflected effort following a slick sequence of edge-of-the-box play, extinguished a period of Real Madrid second half pressure and ensured the trophy returned to Catalonia. His goals and performance ensured the stars of Blaugrana shone over Los Blancos.
The midfield was defined by the technical dominance of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, who dictated the tempo and controlled the central battle. As the game opened up, Lamine Yamal’s influence grew exponentially, his individual quality becoming increasingly difficult for the Madrid defense to contain.
Player Ratings:
Joan Garcia - 8.0
A goalkeeper can only deal with what is in front of him, and Garcia did exactly that. He secured a solid rating after producing two comfortable saves in stoppage time to deny Real Madrid a third equalizer. He was blameless for both goals conceded, providing a reliable presence when it mattered most.
Jules Kounde - 6.5
It was a difficult outing for the defender, who was caught out for the opening goal after allowing Vinicius Jr to drive at him and execute a clinical nutmeg. While he struggled to match the Brazilian’s raw pace in open space, he looked much more composed when allowed to engage and close down play.
Ultimately, with Madrid funneling almost every attack down his flank, he was repeatedly left isolated in one-on-one situations, making it difficult to shoulder the blame entirely.
Pau Cubarsi - 6.5
It was a frustrating performance from the defender, who was left disappointed after allowing Vinicius Jr to bypass him too easily for a shot on goal. His struggles continued as he was outjumped in the air by Dean Huijsen during the buildup to the second equalizer. To compound a difficult night, his distribution from the back was uncharacteristically poor, often failing to find its target.
Eric Garcia - 7.0
With Real Madrid focusing their attacks down the left flank, he remained alert, commanding the penalty area and dealing with incoming crosses with impressive authority. An unlucky deflection denied him a goal from a set-piece, but his elite passing and involvement in the buildup were vital. He neutralized Gonzalo Garcia effectively in the build up play.
Alejandro Balde - 7.5
He delivered a disciplined performance, contributing effectively to both phases of play. While he was defensively sound and reliable in transition, he lacked the incisive 'killer pass' or cross required to elevate his rating. He often opted for the safer pass to Raphinha or Pedri, occasionally missing the opportunity to take a more creative risk.
Frenkie De Jong - 8.0
He excelled at finding pockets of space and recycling possession, consistently threatening to break defensive lines with his vision. While he was sent off for a high foot, the red card felt like a harsh decision and shouldn't overshadow an otherwise high-quality performance
Pedri - 8.5
Big love for this player.
Majestic in the first half, Pedri acted as the game’s primary architect, picking apart the Madrid defense at will. His assist for Lewandowski’s goal, a perfectly timed through ball, showcased elite precision. Combined with his tireless work rate and clinical distribution, he remained the heartbeat of the Barcelona midfield, always providing an available passing lane.
Fermin Lopez - 7.0
He struggled to find his rhythm as Real Madrid’s narrow defensive shape left him heavily marked and isolated. While he looked influential during Barcelona’s periods of sustained possession in the first half, he was ultimately unable to produce the signature magic that has defined his season.
Lamine Yamal - 8.0
Impressed with a masterclass in 1v1 dribbling, consistently outclassing Carreras as the game wore on. He was the primary source of Madrid's defensive headaches, creating several high-value chances through his own vision and individual quality.
Robert Lewandowski - 8.0
While he didn’t necessarily stretch the defense with constant movement, his elite positioning and composure proved decisive. He demonstrated his enduring class with the second goal, needing only a fraction of a second to cancel out retake the lead.
Raphinha - 9.5
Two goals and a relentless work rate earned him Man of the Match. He tormented Raul Asencio from the start, ruthlessly exposing the gulf in class between the two. Squandered a high-quality chance in the first half that could have secured a 10 rating, but we can forgive him.
Substitutes
Dani Olmo - 7.0
Ferran Torres - 7.0
Marcus Rashford - 7.5
Gerard Martin - 7.0
Ronald Araujo - N/A