First trophy for Xavi, crashed Carlo Ancelotti

The Blaugrana dominated the match far and wide, setting the record straight even before halftime

On one side was an up-and-coming coach, chasing his first title at the helm of Barcelona, a club with which he racked up trophies as a player. On the other was ‘King’ Carlo Ancelotti, fresh from last year’s Liga-Champions League doblete and an absolute regular of victories in his extraordinary coaching career. In between is the Spanish Super Cup, and the bitter rivalry between the blaugrana and merengues.

At the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, which on Jan. 18 will be the scene of the Italian Super Cup between AC Milan and Inter Milan, Barcelona came out on top, crashing Real with an eloquent 3-1 victory. Already in the first half the Catalans clearly steered the match in their favor, scoring through Gavi in the 33rd minute and Robert Lewandowski in the 45th minute. In the second half, a reaction from the Casa Blanca was vainly awaited, but it was always Barça that stung, this time with Pedri, who put it in in the 69th minute effectively sealing the match. Useless, and coming well after time had expired, the goal of Madrid’s honor signed Karim Benzema, in the 93rd minute.

It was the 14th title in the competition for the Catalan club, and the first trophy as Barcelona coach for Xavi, who had already won several laurels at the helm of Al-Sadd, in his previous adventure on the bench.