OneFootball
Peter FitzpatrickĀ·14 January 2024
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Peter FitzpatrickĀ·14 January 2024
Real Madrid have won the Spanish Super Cup, defeating their greatest rivals, Barcelona, 4-1 in a dominant final display that featured a first-half Vini Jr. hat-trick.
Read all about it here.
Scorers: Vinicius Jr. 8ā², 10ā², 39ā², Rodrygo 64ā²; Lewandowski 33ā²
Barcelona had the first opening and probably should have scored through Ferran Torres after five minutes. Some neat interplay led to Ä°lkay GĆ¼ndoÄan putting the ball across but the winger could not finish from yards out.
Real made them pay shortly after, Jude Bellingham playing the ball through BarƧaās high line for Vinicius Junior to run through and finish with ease.
Vinicius got his and Realās second just two minutes later and again, Barcelonaās defending could be seriously questioned. The ball went past their backline for Rodrygo to run onto and cross for his Brazilian teammate who finished from close range.
In desperate need of a goal to get back into the game, BarƧa came mightily close shortly after. Pedri teed up Torres on the edge of the box but his sweetly hit volley cracked off the crossbar.
Torres looked his sideās best threat for much of the opening half hour, fashioning himself another chance but firing wide of Real keeper Andriy Lupin.
BarƧa found a way back into the game in the 33rd minute when Alejandro Baldeās cross eventually fell to Robert Lewandowski who volleyed a low shot home from the edge of the box.
Real regained their two goal lead six minutes later, and, again, it was Vini, who completed a stunning first-half hat-trick from the penalty spot after being brought down by Ronald AraĆŗjo.
It was just the sixth Super Cup hat-trick ever and a night to remember to remember for the brilliant Brazilian.
The second half continued in a similar vein with Vini continuing to torment Barcelona, who just stayed in the contest up until the hour.
Any hope of a BarƧa comeback faded even further in the 64th minute when Rodrygo made it 4-1. Vini dribbled down the left before hitting a low cross into the box.
Jules KoundƩ blocked it but it fell right to Rodrygo, who slotted home with ease.
Things went from bad to worse for Xaviās side when AraĆŗjo was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 71st minute.
The last 20 minutes petered out with Real resisting the urge to inflict even more misery on their greatest rivals.
They claim the Super Cup and look well placed to further add to their trophy cabinet this season if tonight is anything to go by.