Jude Bellingham earned his first championship with Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, defeating Barcelona 4-1 in Riyadh.
It was last season’s Spanish league winners, Barcelona, vs Spanish cup winners Real Madrid, and it should have been tight – yet they were worlds apart in a game that has Xavi clinging to his job as Barcelona manager.
Bellingham had only seven minutes to make his influence on the game. Vinicius was able to escape thanks to his defence-splitting pass.
PHOTO:Ronald Araujo pulled down Vinicius with an arm around his neck as he was about to jump.
The England midfielder had two Barcelona players on top of him in the centre-circle but his assist went past them both and in behind Jules Kounde who had stepped out in error leaving Vinicius a free run in behind him.
The Brazilian rounded Inaki Pena to score the opener. It was Bellingham’s sixth for a goal of the season.
Three minutes later Vinicius had doubled the advantage with his second. Rodrygo sprinted from the halfway line on to Dani Carvajal’s long pass and when he crossed to the back post Vincius slid in to finish.
Barcelona had been their own worst enemy with such a high and disorganized defensive line, now the climb back into the game looked a very steep one. They took the first steps through Ferran Torres who hit the crossbar and then forced a fine stop, with his feet, from Andriy LUnin.
When Barcelona did pull a goal back it was Torres’ strike partner who scored it. Robert Lewandowski had taken up an unusual position on the edge of the area when Alejandro Balde crossed from the left. Ferland Mendy headed it clear but it dropped to the Polish forward who hit it perfectly and with power so that although Lunin got his fingertips to it he couldn’t stop it hitting the back of the net.
It was one stop forward and one back though because when Ronald Araujo pulled down Vinicius with an arm around his neck as he was about to jump for a cross, he stepped up to score the penalty himself completing a 38 minute hat-trick. He had scored just three in 15 previous Clasicos and Araujo playing at right-back had played a part in that but on the night the Uruguayan was chasing his nemesis’ shadow, and getting nowhere near it.
Bellingham was booked just before the break for a tackle that downed Pedri. But that, and Lewandowski’s goal aside, it had been the perfect half for Real Madrid.
Madrid were comfortable at the restart with two Bellingham back-heel flicks highlights of long spells of possession.
Xavi had seen enough by the hour mark and Joao Felix, Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal came on with Pedri, Ferran and Sergio Roberto making way. Felix immediately drew a foul and a yellow card for Antonio Rudiger but the changes didn’t work because Madrid scored next.
Fede Valverde flew down the left and crossed to Vinicius on the other wing. When he crossed for Bellingham, Kounde got their first but his weak clearance went straight to Rodrygo who made it 4-1.
Could things get any worse for Barcelona? Araujo made sure they did. He was booked when giving away the first half penalty now with a wild swing he missed the ball and took out Vinicus’ ankle leaving the referee little choice but to show him a second yellow.
There was a card for Ferran Torres too for protesting. Carlo Ancelotti then urged Vinicius to stay focused on the game. He was having a back and forth with the substituted Sergio Roberto. His work was done, he didn’t need to get involved with the Barça bench.
Madrid should then have scored a fifth but substitute Brahim Diaz and Bellingham couldn’t finish after another mistake from Kounde. Felix then tested Lunin but he blocked well justifying his selection ahead of Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Everything had worked out well for Madrid, so well that with the clock ticking down Ancelotti could start to think about Wednesday’s Spanish Cup game with Atletico Madrid – both Valverde and Bellingham were taken off. Bellingham had started it with that pass Vinicius and friends had finished it, Ancelotti had his 11th trophy as Madrid coach and Bellingham had his first.
