Real Madrid, after successfully recruiting Kylian Mbappe during the off-season, initially struggled to find their form due to a lack of team cohesion. However, as the season progressed, the "Galactic Battleship" gradually regained its former glory and returned to the top ranks of the La Liga title race with its strong strength. On the other hand, Barcelona, a long-time rival of Real Madrid, started the season in excellent form, demonstrating a powerful dominance that could be described as heroic. However, in the past seven consecutive league matches, Barcelona experienced a dramatic downturn, winning only one game. This poor performance led them to plummet down the La Liga table to third place, trailing the current leaders by a significant six points, a situation that is not optimistic for them. It is worth noting that in the first leg of the season, Barcelona achieved a resounding 4-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, giving them a clear psychological advantage ahead of this match.
On the day of the match, both teams' coaches deployed aggressive lineups. Real Madrid's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, continued with his 4-2-3-1 tactical system. Mbappe, like a sharp dagger, was positioned as the lone striker, leading the charge. Vinicius, Bellingham, and Rodrygo followed closely behind, providing continuous offensive support. In midfield, Camavinga and Valverde partnered as double pivot, taking on important responsibilities for midfield organization and defense. In defense, Chuameni temporarily played as a center-back, joining Rudiger, Mendy, and Vazquez to build a solid defensive line. As for Courtois, he stood focused in front of the goal, ready to deal with any possible situations.
For Barcelona, coach Flick deployed his usual 4-3-3 formation. The front line featured Lewandowski, Yamar, and Rafinha, forming a powerful trident responsible for attacking. In midfield, Pedri, Casado, and Gavi were stationed, controlling the rhythm of the game like metronomes. The backline was built by Kubasi, Martinez, Kounde, and Balde, working together to create an impenetrable defensive barrier. The goal was entrusted to Szczesny to guard, forming the last line of defense for the team.
In various competitions, thrilling battles often unfold, with those exciting moments capturing the audience's attention and hearts. When the whistle blows or the start signal is given, the athletes quickly engage in fierce competition. At this moment, the field becomes a battlefield filled with smoke, with players exerting themselves to stand out in the contest. In basketball, a player might break through the opponent's defenses like lightning, leap high, and slam the ball into the basket with an extremely graceful and beautiful posture. That moment, the arc of the net seems to tell the story of this thrilling moment. Football fields are also full of such exciting scenes. A forward, with keen insight and super-fast speed, skillfully maneuvers through the opponent's defenders, finally finding the right opportunity for a powerful shot, with the ball flying into the goal like a cannonball. The goalkeeper may not even have time to react, watching helplessly as the ball enters the net, while the spectators burst into thunderous applause. Whether it's basketball or football, these exciting moments during intense battles are like the brightest stars in the night sky, shining with unique brilliance and immersing every witness, making them unforgettable. They not only showcase the athletes' superb skills and tenacious fighting spirit but also add endless charm and passion to the entire competition.
As soon as the match began, Barcelona immediately entered an excellent state, showing a strong desire to attack. Just two minutes into the game, Real Madrid's Valverde made a passing error, which was quickly intercepted by Barcelona's players. Rafinha, who got the ball, quickly advanced and cleverly distributed it. At this point, Yamar received the ball on the right flank, cut inside, and took a curling shot that bounced rapidly towards the far corner. Fortunately, Courtois reacted quickly, diving to save the ball and successfully defused the threat.
In the fifth minute of the match, Barcelona staged an impressive tactical combination on the right flank. Casado dribbled the ball to the baseline and accurately lofted it towards the center. At this moment, Rafinha seized the opportunity, jumping high with no one marking him, aiming to head the ball into the goal. However, Courtois once again demonstrated his world-class goalkeeper abilities, reacting agilely and saving the ball with precision, protecting the goal and allowing Real Madrid to narrowly escape the crisis. Real Madrid, having just avoided disaster, immediately seized the opportunity to launch a rapid counterattack. Vinicius showed great courage, seizing the ball decisively and launching a quick attack. Mbappe received the ball and fearlessly charged towards Barcelona's defense, facing the opposition's encirclement. He calmly chose to push the ball into the far corner from a small angle, and the ball obediently flew into the net. Thus, Real Madrid broke the deadlock on the field, and the score changed to 1-0.
After that, both sides engaged in fierce competition, neither willing to give in easily. In the ninth minute of the match, Barcelona's Rafinha received a cross from Balde on the left flank and slightly adjusted before taking a powerful shot from a tight angle. Unfortunately, the ball slid past the post, missing a golden opportunity to equalize the score. Then, in the 22nd minute, the situation changed. Lewandowski played a penetrating through ball, giving Yamar a chance to display his skills. Yamar showcased his outstanding individual ability, cutting inside and shooting low towards the far corner, successfully equalizing the score for Barcelona, and the score became 1-1.
In the 34th minute of the match, the situation on the field suddenly shifted dramatically. At that time, Kounde initiated a cross from the right flank, hitting Mendy directly. In the penalty area, Camavinga accidentally fouled Gavi. After a series of actions, the referee used VAR technology to carefully review and ultimately decided to award a penalty kick and show a yellow card to Camavinga. In the 36th minute, Lewandowski stepped up to take the crucial penalty kick, scoring steadily. With this outstanding performance, Lewandowski not only completed the assist and goal but also helped Barcelona achieve a lead, changing the score to 2-1. Just three minutes later, Kounde once again displayed his passing skills on the right flank, sending a precise long pass. During the defense, Vazquez made a mistake, and the alert Rafinha seized the opportunity, scoring a beautiful header to further extend Barcelona's lead to 3-1.
The critical turning point of the match came in the second half when both teams switched sides. In the 47th minute, the situation on the field became tense again. Vinicius broke through the defense on the left flank with his outstanding individual ability and quickly crossed the ball. At this point, Rodrygo, in a good position, took a volley, but the ball hit the crossbar as if challenging it and bounced out. Not long after, Barcelona seized another opportunity for a quick counterattack. Rafinha's performance was particularly eye-catching, skillfully dribbling past Chuameni with his proficient technique and obtaining a golden one-on-one opportunity. Facing such an opportunity, Rafinha did not let it slip away, calmly pushing the ball into the goal, and the score widened to a decisive 5-1.
In the 55th minute of the match, Bellingham successfully intercepted the ball and quickly sent a threatening through ball. This move gave Mbappe an excellent one-on-one opportunity. Facing this situation, the opposing goalkeeper Szczesny rushed out decisively and ended up tripping Mbappe. Initially, the referee ruled that Mbappe was offside, but after a careful review using VAR, the referee made a new decision, showing a red card to Szczesni and sending him off. In the 60th minute, the field saw another change. This time, Rodrygo stood at the free-kick spot, adjusted his stance, and took a powerful shot that flew into the goal like a bullet. Thus, Real Madrid managed to pull one back with this spectacular free-kick goal, and the score became 2-5.
In the closing stages of the match, Mbappe cut inside in the 96th minute and unleashed a powerful shot. Facing this sudden attack, Peña reacted incredibly agilely and made an excellent save. Ultimately, Barcelona won a decisive victory over Real Madrid with a lopsided score of 5-2. This victory was not simple; Barcelona not only achieved a double over Real Madrid in the season but also won the Spanish Super Cup trophy for the 15th time, symbolizing glory. As a result, Real Madrid was left far behind in this contest. Looking back on this thrilling encounter, Barcelona's players performed exceptionally well. They relied on their impeccable teamwork and each player's brilliant individual skills to fully demonstrate their superior strength. In contrast, Real Madrid, after suffering this painful defeat, needs to calm down and reflect on the lessons learned to prepare adequately for the upcoming series of matches.