FC Barcelona secured their 14th Spanish Super Cup title after thrashing fierce rivals Real Madrid 3-1 on Sunday night.
Supercopa de España Final
Result: Real Madrid 1-3 FC Barcelona
Date: 15 January 2023
Venue: King Fahd International Stadium
Los Blancos made three changes to the side that needed penalty shootouts to eliminate Valencia, as full-backs Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal were recalled alongside the returning Luka Modric.
Blaugrana, on the other hand, had similar alterations after they also progressed to the final via penalty shootout win over Real Betis, as Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde returned with Sergio Busquets in tow.
Xavi's charges were all over Madrid in the early exchanges as Robert Lewandowski nearly gave them the lead with a strike from a loose ball in the box that was tipped into the post by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Madrid absorbed the pressure well and were progressing their play but they were caught trying to play from the back just after the half-hour mark as Gavi broke the deadlock with a strike from close-range after he was teed up by Lewandowski.
The Catalan giants regained their dominance on the ball and Lewandowski doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time with a tap-in and got his first goal in the El Clasico after a cut-back by Gavi, who went through on goal.
Barca had another storming start in the second stanza and Los Blancos had Courtois to thank for not going 3-0 behind after he made two fine saves to deny Ousmane Dembele and Lewandowski in quick succession.
As Madrid looked to create their own chances, they shot themselves in the foot again on 69 minutes after Blaugrana stole possession in a dangerous area and Gavi made another telling cross at the back post that was tapped home by Pedri.
Carlo Ancelotti had nothing to lose after that as he sacrificed Toni Kroos for Marco Asensio to reinforce their attack while Xavi brought the fresh legs of Raphinha in place of Dembele out on the wing.
Second-half substitute finally forced Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to make a save ten minutes before time after letting fly from range.
Karim Benzema scored a consolation goal for Ancelotti's men in stoppages with a strike from a rebound in the box, as the Catalan giants were crowned champions for the record-extending 14th time.
Blaugrana won the Super Cup title for the first time in its current format of four teams and for the first time since 2018, taking their tally to a record 14.
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