With coach Xavi and without Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s title drought is finally over. Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-1 on Sunday to win the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and delight their fans again following a reform process that began following Messi’s departure for Paris Saint-Germain and the arrival of former player Xavi. Gave reason to celebrate. as coach in 2021.
“We’ve gone through some difficult years, with financial difficulties, Messi’s departure,” Xavi said. “Bringing back the positive momentum was not easy. It will help give us some peace. Despite all the criticism, we have been working hard since the beginning and we have to keep working.”
Barcelona had not lifted the trophy since the 2021 Copa del Rey under former coach Ronald Koeman. It was Messi’s 35th and final title with Barcelona before leaving amid the club’s financial struggles.
Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and Pedri each scored in the final at the King Fahd Stadium to give Barcelona their first Super Cup trophy since 2018 – and 14th overall – and since the tournament switched to a Final Four format in 2020 First. A lucrative deal for the Spanish Football Federation. Gavi opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after a pass from Lewandowski, who doubled the lead after Gavi assisted on a breakaway just before the end of the first half. Gavi also set up Pedry’s close-range goal in the 69th on another breakaway.
Karim Benzema scored late in stoppage time for Madrid. Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets said, “We knew we could not miss this opportunity.” “We are going through changes at the club and I think this win will make us stronger and allow us to continue competing, moving forward and fighting for titles.
“It is clear that at Barca you always have to win,” Busquets said. “We knew this was going to happen when Xavi arrived, and now we’ve finally been able to make it happen.”
Watch highlights between the Super Cup 2023 finals barcelona vs real madrid Here…
how it started … #El Clasico pic.twitter.com/NVFSqZpVd7– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 15, 2023
Madrid were seeking to win their second consecutive Super Cup title in Saudi Arabia, and equal Barcelona’s record of 13 Super Cup trophies. “It’s a tough loss and we have to learn from it,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We will improve and bounce back from this.”
Madrid knocked out Barcelona in last season’s semi-finals, but the Spanish powerhouses have never met in the final of the newly organized competition. Both teams needed a penalty shootout to edge their opponents in the semi-finals. Madrid beat Valencia and Barcelona beat Real Betis.
Madrid beat Barcelona 3–1 at home in the first “clásico” of the season at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the Spanish league in October. He is three points behind Barcelona in this season’s league.
The Super Cup was played between the Spanish league champion and the Copa del Rey winner. Now the runners-up also participate in both the competitions. Madrid played as league champions and Barcelona as runners-up. Betis won the Copa title last season over Valencia. The current contract to play the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia runs until the 2024-25 season despite criticism over the country’s human rights record.
(With PTI inputs)