Real Madrid’s Nacho kisses the trophy of the Spanish Super Cup after the ultimate soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Al Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 14, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Vinícius Júnior did his greatest Cristiano Ronaldo impression in Saudi Arabia, scoring a hat trick and main Real Madrid to a 4-1 rout of Barcelona and the Spanish Super Cup trophy.
Vinícius scored his three targets in the primary half as Madrid beat Barcelona to carry its first trophy of the season on January 14. After his first aim, the Brazil ahead imitated the trademark celebration of the previous Madrid nice, with Ronaldo reportedly on the Riyadh stadium.
“It was for Cris, because he is my idol and now he is playing here,” stated Vinícius, who was named the perfect participant of the ultimate. “I’m very happy with myself and with my team. It’s not easy to play against Barcelona and to win 4-1 is tough. We played an almost perfect match.”
Rodrygo additionally scored for Madrid, which now has 13 Super Cup trophies, one lower than the Catalan membership. It was Madrid’s second Super Cup triumph because the event was moved to Saudi Arabia 4 years in the past. Robert Lewandowski scored Barcelona’s aim to make it 2-1 in the primary half.
The “clasico” between the Spanish powerhouses was a rematch of final yr’s Super Cup last that Barcelona gained 3-1 for its first trophy with coach Xavi Hernández and with out Lionel Messi.
Madrid had additionally gained at Barcelona in the primary “clasico” of the season in October in the Spanish league.
Barcelona performed a person down from the 71st after defender Ronald Araujo was proven a second yellow card for a foul on Vinícius. Madrid was already successful 4-1 on the time.
The victory added to Madrid’s momentum as Carlo Ancelotti’s group stays unbeaten in 21 consecutive video games in all competitions. Its final setback was a 3-1 loss at Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league in September.
In distinction, the defeat provides to Barcelona’s troubles and will increase the strain on Xavi, whose group hasn’t performed nicely lately. It trails second-place Madrid by seven factors in the Spanish league, with Catalan opponent Girona one other level forward on the prime having performed an additional sport.
“We are disappointed and sad,” Xavi stated. “We were hopeful of another victory, but in the end it was our worst match. We didn’t get off to a good start and were never comfortable. We have to congratulate Madrid because it deserved to win.”
It didn’t take lengthy for Madrid to take management of the match in Riyadh, with Vinícius scoring his first targets since an extended damage absence in the seventh, tenth and thirty ninth minutes. It was Vinícius’ third match since being out from November due to an damage picked up with Brazil’s nationwide group in a World Cup qualifier.
“Vinícius is back,” Ancelotti stated. “He needed these two or three games to get back to his best form.”
Vinícius opened the scoring after an help by Jude Bellingham, dribbling previous Barcelona goalkeeper Iñaki Peña earlier than discovering the open internet. The second aim got here in a breakaway after an help by Rodrygo, and the third was a penalty kick he transformed after being pulled down by Araujo.
Lewandowski had moved Barcelona inside a aim with a shot from inside the realm in the thirty third, however Madrid remained in management throughout the remainder of the match to safe a cushty victory.
Rodrygo’s aim got here in the sixty fourth after a go by Vinícius was deflected by Barcelona defender Jules Koundé inside the realm.
Madrid made it to the ultimate by defeating Atletico Madrid 5-3 in additional time in the primary semifinal on Wednesday, whereas Barcelona bought previous Osasuna 2-0 on Thursday.
Madrid certified for the Super Cup after beating Osasuna in the Copa del Rey last final season, whereas Barcelona made it to the event as the Spanish league champion.
Madrid additionally gained the trophy when the Super Cup’s revamped “Final Four” format debuted in Saudi Arabia in 2020 in the primary of a profitable multi-year deal for the golf equipment and the Spanish soccer federation. The transfer to Saudi Arabia was closely criticized by girls’s and human rights teams for allegedly serving to an authoritarian regime clear up its picture.
Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who has criticized the choice by prime gamers to play in Saudi Arabia, was booed once more by the Saudi crowd on Sunday.
