iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
A former Emirati rally driver, Ben Sulayem was also cleared by the FIA ethics committee of influencing the results of the Saudi Arabian GP
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Barcelona beat Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia to win first trophy without Lionel Messi
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-1 on Sunday to win the Spanish Super Cup at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Barcelona players celebrate with the trophy after they beat Real Madrid in Riyadh. -- AP
Barcelona's title drought with coach Xavi — and without Lionel Messi — is finally over.
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-1 on Sunday to win the Spanish Super Cup at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and give their fans reasons to celebrate again after a revamping process that began following Messi's departure for Paris Saint-Germain and the arrival of former player Xavi as coach in 2021.
“We’ve been through some tough years, with financial difficulties, Messi’s departure,” Xavi said. “It was not easy to bring back a positive dynamic. This will help give us some tranquility. We've been working hard from the beginning despite all the criticism, and we have to keep working."
Barcelona had not lifted a trophy since the 2021 Copa del Rey under former coach Ronald Koeman. That was Messi’s 35th and final title with Barcelona before leaving amid the club’s financial struggles.
Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and Pedri scored a goal each in the final at King Fahd Stadium to give Barcelona their first Super Cup trophy since 2018 — and their 14th overall — and the first since the tournament began being played in a Final Four format in 2020 in a lucrative deal for the Spanish soccer federation.
Gavi opened the scoring in the 33rd minute from close range after a pass by Lewandowski, who doubled the lead after an assist by Gavi in a breakaway just before the end of the first half. Gavi also set up Pedri’s close-range goal in another breakaway in the 69th.
Karim Benzema scored for Madrid late in stoppage time.
“We knew we couldn’t miss this opportunity,” Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets said. “We’ve been going through changes at the club and I think this triumph will make us stronger and allow us to keep competing, keep growing and keep fighting for titles.
“It’s clear that at Barça you always have to win,” Busquets said. “We knew it was going to be like that after Xavi arrived, and now we finally have been able to do it.”
Madrid were trying to win their second consecutive Super Cup title in Saudi Arabia, and equal Barcelona's record of 13 Super Cup trophies.
“It’s a tough loss and we have to learn from it,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We will improve and bounce back from it.”
The Super Cup used to be played between the Spanish league champion and the Copa del Rey winner. Now the runners-up in both competitions also participate. Madrid played as the league champion and Barcelona as the league runner-up. Betis won the Copa title over Valencia last season.
The current contract to play the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia runs through the 2024-25 season.
- Ronaldo to captain Saudi team against Messi's PSG; golden ticket auction to meet stars ends tomorrow
More news from Sports
China's foreign ministry on Monday hit back at the widespread reports, which first emerged in the
Rasmus Hojlund's penalty sent United into the final against Manchester City
The American Olympic icon said he's pleased to see athletes from a range of nations challenging in the sprints at the highest level
The comfortable victory from pole position in Shanghai was Verstappen's fourth in five races in 2024
Head the star as the winners hammer 22 maximums to climb to second spot behind Rajasthan Royals with five wins in seven matches
Hosts comfortably chase down modest target for a seven wicket win at Rawalpindi.
Bernardo Silva achieves redemption with late goal that sends the the Sky Blues into a title match against Coventry City or Manchester United
