Real Madrid suffered a humiliating 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, with star midfielder Jude Bellingham delivering an uncharacteristically invisible performance and defender Lucas Vazquez enduring a torrid time against the brilliant Raphinha. The match, played at King Abdullah Sports City, exposed significant defensive frailties in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Despite taking an early lead through Kylian Mbappe’s clinical finish, Madrid’s evening quickly unraveled into a defensive catastrophe. The warning signs were evident from the start, with Barcelona’s dynamic attack consistently finding spaces behind Madrid’s disorganized backline. Lamine Yamal’s equalizer, reminiscent of Lionel Messi’s finest moments, marked the beginning of Madrid’s collapse.
Vazquez’s nightmare performance epitomized Madrid’s defensive struggles, as the right-back was repeatedly exposed by Raphinha’s pace and trickery. The Brazilian winger’s dominance forced Ancelotti to withdraw Vazquez after just 50 minutes of sustained torment, but by then, the damage was already done.
Perhaps most concerning for Madrid supporters was Bellingham’s disappearing act on one of the season’s biggest stages. The English midfielder, who has been a revelation since joining Los Blancos, found himself completely neutralized by Barcelona’s tactical setup. His inability to influence the game marked a rare off-night in what has otherwise been a stellar debut season.
The match descended into further chaos as Barcelona ruthlessly exploited Madrid’s defensive shortcomings. Robert Lewandowski’s penalty conversion was followed by Raphinha’s unmarked header, highlighting the alarming lack of defensive organization. The situation worsened when Alejandro Balde added a fourth goal following a poorly executed Madrid corner, exposing their vulnerability to counter-attacks.
Raphinha’s second goal early in the second half, which saw him thoroughly outmaneuver Aurelien Tchouameni before wrong-footing Thibaut Courtois, completed Madrid’s humiliation. Even Barcelona’s reduction to ten men following Wojciech Szczesny’s dismissal for fouling Mbappe failed to spark a meaningful Madrid response, despite Rodrygo’s well-taken free-kick offering a glimmer of hope.
The defeat raises serious questions about Madrid’s defensive structure and their ability to compete in high-stakes matches. Ancelotti’s tactical approach came under scrutiny as his team appeared disorganized and lacking in ideas, particularly after Barcelona went down to ten men. The Italian manager’s decision to persist with an obviously struggling Vazquez and his inability to find a solution to Bellingham’s ineffectiveness highlighted concerning limitations in Madrid’s tactical flexibility.
Madrid’s midfield, usually a source of strength, proved particularly disappointing. Eduardo Camavinga’s first-half struggles led to his halftime substitution, while Federico Valverde’s error directly contributed to Barcelona’s fourth goal. Even the introduction of experienced campaigner Luka Modric failed to provide the creative spark needed to mount a comeback.
The attacking trio of Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo showed only fleeting moments of their usual brilliance. While Mbappe managed to score and remained a threat throughout, Vinicius had minimal impact before being substituted, and Rodrygo’s beautiful free-kick proved little more than a consolation.
This comprehensive defeat, coming in a major final against their fiercest rivals, will likely prompt serious introspection within the Madrid camp. While Ancelotti attempted to downplay the significance of the loss by referring to the Super Cup’s relative importance, the manner of the defeat and the individual performances of key players will undoubtedly concern the club’s hierarchy and supporters alike.
