RIYADH: On Sunday, Barcelona easily defeated Real Madrid 3-1 in Saudi Arabia to win the Spanish Super Cup, their first victory under new coach Xavi Hernandez.
The Catalans put up one of their best displays in years against their fierce Clasico opponents, Gavi, a young player who scored himself and assisted goals for Robert Lewandowski and Pedri Gonzalez.
Xavi left Barca in November 2021 after enjoying great success as a player there. This convincing victory, following a summer of lavish investment, is a sign that the project is headed in the right direction.
Madrid, who have not played at their best since the World Cup break and have fallen three points behind Barcelona in La Liga, scored a late consolation goal through Karim Benzema.
Los Blancos gave up the trophy they won last year to Barcelona, who have now won the Spanish Super Cup a record 14 times. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti experienced his first loss in a final since 2014.
Sergio Busquets, the captain of Barca, told Movistar, “We knew it was a chance we had to take. We have gone through a period of changes at the club and in the dressing room, and this will reinforce us to keep pushing for more titles.”
The 18-year-old Gavi, who had a nominal starting position on the left but frequently gave Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal the slip, was one of the four central midfielders who Xavi strategically deployed.
When Busquets applied good pressure in response to an errant pass from Antonio Rudiger, which led to Lewandowski feeding Gavi, who comfortably scored, Barcelona broke the scoreless tie.
For the second, Gavi switched roles, catching De Jong’s pass and slipping the ball across for Lewandowski to finish expertly.
“(Gavi) is a youngster that thrills us all,” Xavi said during a news conference. “When you see him compete like that, putting his soul out there, he’s a character that is contagious for the squad, and he has an intrinsic ability for leadership.”
“It’s amazing, it comes from inside him. Even though I’ve said it a lot already at age 18, keep saying it: this boy has no ceiling.
True “weaknesses”
Barcelona is in good hands both now and the future, as evidenced by Gavi. He won the Golden Boy award in 2022. Gavi was also the game’s best performer.
To directly contain the Brazilian’s danger, Ronald Araujo restrained the club’s rising star, Vinicius Junior. Ronald Araujo was playing as a right-back for Madrid. He used this position to directly contain the Brazilian’s danger by restraining Vinicius Junior.
Fede Valverde of Real Madrid said, “Today I felt we were lacking. We went out there giving 90%, 80%, and in a final against a rival like this, you can’t do that.”
After a stunning Alejandro Balde run, Courtois denied Dembele, keeping Madrid’s faint hopes alive. The exhausted Belgian goalkeeper was from Belgium.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen of Barcelona did not face a test until the team scored its third goal in the 70th minute.
Barcelona romped to a thrilling victory thanks to Lewandowski’s release of Gavi, who crossed for Pedri to tap home at the back post.
Barcelona’s perfect record was marred by a late Benzema goal, which he scored after his initial shot was stopped.
At a press conference, Ancelotti said, “To suggest that was humiliation is rude.
“We lost to Barcelona in a match even though we defeated them in the league. They simply deserved it since they performed better.
The victory’s boost to their competitors’ morale may end up being Madrid’s biggest setback.
Xavi felt overjoyed with the win to even though, despite Barcelona’s elimination from this season’s Champions League and the assessment of Xavi’s performance in important events.
“What we planned went perfectly, we beat Madrid, controlling the entire game,” Xavi stated. “It brings a lot of calm, confidence.”
“I’ll consider how we performed as a result; that is very significant to me. Yes, the trophy, but how (we won it).
“This season, we have three titles up for grabs, which gives us confidence.”