Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-2 to claim the trophy in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Following Real Madrid’s defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup Final, renowned Real Madrid fanatic Tomás Roncero penned a column, stating bluntly that Los Blancos fell short due to details and random factors, and emphasizing that this team should never be written off easily.
It was a cruel ending. Federico Valverde had to exit the game early due to injury; Vinícius Júnior asked to be substituted due to physical discomfort during the team’s furious late-game onslaught, even though he was having his best night of the season; Kylian Mbappé tried to soldier on through injury like El Cid—the legendary medieval Spanish hero who boosted his army’s morale by fighting on despite severe wounds—but his current physical condition was ultimately not fit for play. Álvaro Carreras and Marco Asensio both had golden opportunities in the final minute, chances that could have forced the game into a penalty shootout... Yet, the goal that decided the Super Cup title was ultimately a "lucky strike" scored by Raphinha.
The Brazilian winger was named Man of the Match once again, but there is no denying that the goal that settled this El Clásico came via a deflection, a fortuitous bounce that arose after he slipped accidentally. You could call it "the luck of a champion", but let’s not forget that in the run-up to the final, the air was filled with doomsday prophecies. Critics claimed Barcelona was clearly a class above, set to unleash a "storm" that would even cost Xabi Alonso his job. That was the verdict from a bartender near my home—someone who is more of a Barcelona fan than Joan Laporta himself.
Real Madrid had already been underestimated in the pre-match buildup. Because word out of Barcelona was that Hansi Flick’s side would rather face Real Madrid than Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid in Jeddah. That arrogance nearly cost them dearly. Never write off Real Madrid as a defeated team. They lost only because of tiny details—and let me reiterate—they lost to a lucky goal.
A Night for Vinícius
The Brazilian star rediscovered that menacing form that makes him a worthy contender for the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Vinícius was absolutely sensational, repeatedly wrongfooting Jules Koundé and tormenting Flick’s defensive setup throughout the game. In the end, he ended his goal drought with a brilliant strike, vindicating himself and leveling the score at 1-1.
It was a breathtaking solo run—he left Koundé, Pedri and Pau Cubarsí trailing in his wake. Vinícius has rediscovered his samba football flair, sending a clear message that he will never give up easily. It was only when cramp forced him to stop that he asked for a substitution with dignity, determined not to be a burden to the team. This is the Vinícius who has redeemed himself; he will eventually silence the boos at the Santiago Bernabéu and win back the applause that has belonged to him ever since he joined the club in 2018. Vinícius points the way to hope.
La Fábrica’s Finisher
Gonzalo García scored once again, proving that he has what it takes to be a pure center-forward. In the future, he will score many more goals wearing the white jersey he has loved since childhood. In first-half stoppage time, he scored a goal brimming with fighting spirit and grit to make it 2-2—a strike worthy of Raúl González’s legacy. This kid deserves all the accolades coming his way, and there is no doubt that he will keep getting opportunities. Truly, Real Madrid’s La Fábrica youth academy lives up to its reputation as a top-tier talent factory.
Alonso’s Future
I earnestly implore the club here to let the coach from Tolosa focus on his job in peace. This Sunday, he used tactical arrangements to bamboozle Barcelona, successfully neutralizing their supposed advantages and preventing the "rout" that critics had predicted. His rational and intelligent deep-lying defensive approach put Barça goalkeeper Joan García under far more pressure than Thibaut Courtois.
Xabi Alonso has a clear plan; all he needs is the trust to execute it. When Mbappé, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger are fully fit again, this Real Madrid team will undoubtedly enter an upward trajectory. This defeat is painful and hard to swallow, but neither the coach nor the players have anything to reproach themselves for. I firmly believe that this story will have a happy ending in the end.
To You, My Friend
On such a difficult night, made even more agonizing by a painful and unfair defeat, I cannot help but think of my beloved friend Ángel García Collín—a partner who stood by my side in our professional, football and culinary endeavors. He fought a cruel battle against fate for nearly nine years, until he left us forever this past Saturday. But his unwavering faith allowed him to keep extending his "extra time", as he used to say. Thanks to that, he was fortunate enough to witness his beloved Real Madrid lift the 14th and 15th Champions League trophies. Rest in peace, my friend—up in heaven, you will celebrate the 16th.
