Real Madrid thrash Barcelona to win Super Cup

By Peter Ochieng

Real Madrid are the 2024 Spanish Super Cup champions.

The Santiago Barnabeu side defeated bitter rivals Barcelona 4-1 in the final, played at the Al-Awwal Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday night.

Vinicius Junior scored a hat-trick, including a penalty before the half time break as Rodrygo scored another goal after the break, in what turned out to be a Brazilian show for Real.

Robert Lewandoski pulled a goal back for Xavi Hernandez's men, but a comeback was not on the cards, with Ronald Araujo's red card compounding Barca's worse.

In his post match press conference, Xavi admitted his team was awful from the start.

"We can’t come into a final like this. We’ve been awful in defence and in the high pressing. You just can’t start a final losing 2-0. Then we got back a bit with Robert Lewandowski’s goal, but the penalty, which wasn’t a penalty in my opinion, took us down again. Then the second half has been really bad. On the defensive side of the game, we did not stop their runs," said the former Barcelona midfielder.

He apologised to Barcelona fans.

"We did not make fouls. They live off that, that’s where the first two goals came from. We knew it and work to stop it in training, but it didn’t work out. Not just as a Barca manager, but as a Barca fan I am very sad. That’s all I can say. Apologies to our fans but we’ll bounce back."

Despite the setback, he said he is still the right man for the Barcelona dugout as pressure continues to pile on him over poor results.

"I am ready to get all the criticism that will come. No problems. I believe in this project, in myself, in the footballers. I think we are capable to revert this. There are three titles remaining. It’s a hard blow, but this is sport. I’m still confident and I feel strong. What can I do to convince fans? We can look back and see that, with me in the club, we have won trophies. We have already done it. We did everything last year to believe Barca was in the start of a new era. Now it’s time to hold on, reset things and fight for titles."

Barcelona is still in contention for the Champions League, Spanish La Liga - though 8 points behind leaders Madrid, and the Copa del Rey.