Big Match Recap: Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona
Report and takeaways from the Supercopa de Espana final.
Vinicius Junior’s first-half hat-trick inspired Real Madrid to an emphatic 4-1 victory over the 10 men of Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana.
Having overcome Atletico Madrid in a thriller on Wednesday, Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos gained revenge for their loss to Barca in last year’s final with a rampant display of dominance in Riyadh on Sunday.
After opening the scoring in the seventh minute by coolly rounding Inaki Pena having been played in by Jude Bellingham’s sublime pass, Vinicius made it 2-0 when he slid in to tuck home Rodrygo’s cross-shot. In the process, he became the first player to score twice in the opening 10 minutes of a Clasico since Gary Lineker did so for Barca in January 1987.
Robert Lewandowski’s stunning volley dragged Barca back into proceedings, yet Madrid and Vinicius had a third six minutes later — Vinicius slamming in from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Ronald Araujo.
Araujo was booked for that challenge, and after Rodrygo had further compounded Barca’s misery with a calmly taken fourth for Madrid, the Uruguayan saw red when he lunged in on Vinicius.
It capped a dismal night for Xavi’s side as they relinquished their title with a whimper, as Madrid made a statement of intent heading into the second half of the campaign.
TAKEAWAYS
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