Despite head coach Xabi Alonso fielding his strongest lineup, Real Madrid struggled to make an impact in the first half of the Spanish Super Cup final. Their focus remained heavily on defense, allowing Barcelona to dominate offensively with an aggressive high press. Under this pressure, Raphinha capitalized on an individual, score the opening goal for the Blaugranas, but Vinicius Jr did not take much time to tie the game.
Raphinha’s brilliance in midfield set the stage for an exceptional play. After receiving a precise pass, he dashed down the left flank, where he faced Eduardo Camavinga in a one-on-one challenge. The Brazilian skillfully maneuvered past Camavinga by exploiting the space between his legs, then unleashed a powerful strike to the right. His shot flew past Thibaut Courtois, who couldn’t manage the save.
After an impressive play down the left flank, Vinícius Jr. showcased outstanding skill by dribbling past Jules Koundé and Eric García. The Brazilian broke through on goal and scored the equalizer, decisively beating Joan García at the net. With this goal, he snapped a frustrating streak of 17 consecutive matches without scoring.
Far from collapsing after Vinícius Jr.’s goal, Barcelona managed to turn their situation around thanks to a brilliant Pedri, who carried the ball to the edge of the box. There, he found Robert Lewandowski, who won position against Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio in defense. As a result, the veteran Pole went one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois and delicately chipped the ball over him to score the Blaugranas’ second goal.
Hansi Flick’s joy lasted only a few minutes, as Real Madrid asserted itself as it so often does. Following a well-taken corner kick, Vinícius Jr. attempted a finish, but the ball was blocked by Alejandro Balde. However, the rebound fell to the feet of young Gonzalo García, who did not hesitate to strike decisively and score the equalizer in what has been a brilliant match.
*developing story…
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