Barcelona clinches 2023 Spanish Super Cup, takes Real Madrid to the cleaners

By Sakiru Olopade 

It was jubilation and merriments for the Blaugrana fans after whitewashing arch rivals, Real Madrid to clinch 2023 Spanish super cup at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The El – clasico was one sided with Barcelona dominating and dictating the pace from the beginning the end, with Madrid virtually on holiday.

Xavi Hernandez side was focused, intense, kept possession and outwitted their opponent in every department of the game.

Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and Dembele, terroriszing the defense of Real Madrid that were on their toes for the better part of the match.

The Los Blancos did nothing in the 1st half, except for the opportunity missed by Karim Benzema when he needed to make an easy header from Forland Mendy’s cross.

Barcelona continued to pile pressure on the defense of Madrid until Gavi, the youngster fired home past Thibaut Courtois for the 1st goal of the encounter.

At the stroke of the 1st half, Frenkie De John sent a defense splitting pass to Gavi who in return found Robert Lewandowski to put the ball at the back of the net for the second goal that erupted the stadium.

All efforts in the early part of the second half to reduce the tally were rebuffed by the highly determined Barcelona side.

Lewandowski and Dembele were the thorns in the flesh of Real Madrid defense, forcing Courtois to make daring saves.

However, in the 70th minute, Pedri got his name on the scorer’s sheet with the third goal, after receiving a clinical pass from Gavi, the provider of two assists in the one sided encounter.

In the last final seconds, Real Madrid managed to get a consolatory goal through the old warhorse, Karim Benzema.

With the last night victory, Barcelona had emerged as champions of 2023 Spanish super cup, the 1st title this season under the new manager, Xavi Hernandez.