New Delhi: Barcelona began 2026 season the way every big club wants to by lifting the silverware. The Catalans edged past Real Madrid in a dramatic Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah. In a pulsating El Clasico that swung wildly from one end to the other, Barca held their nerve to win a five-goal thriller and claimed the trophy for the second year in a row.

For Hansi Flick’s side, it was a familiar sight as just like the last season, Los Blancos were left chasing shadows at key moments while Barcelona showed greater control when it mattered most. The win marked Barca’s 16th Spanish Super Cup title and underlined their growing dominance in finals against their biggest rivals.

We’ve won it again. We celebrate again. 💙❤️🏆 pic.twitter.com/93SDC4SS4i

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 11, 2026

Raphinha was once again at the heart of it all. The Brazilian opened the scoring midway through the first half, drilling a low finish into the corner after finding space on the edge of the box. His composure set the tone on a night where calm finishing made the difference.

First half chaos set the stage

The match exploded into life in stoppage time at the end of the first half when Vinicius Jr dragged Madrid level with a superb solo effort. It was his first goal in 17 games, briefly swinging momentum in Real’s way.

The Blaugrana responded instantly when the play resumed. Robert Lewandowski restored the lead, clipping a delicate finish off the post but the chaos was far from over. Gonzalo Garcia equalised minutes later after a goalmouth scramble, with protests from the Barca bench as Flick felt the whistle should have already gone.

Just when the game looked set to tilt again, Raphinha stepped up, and his floating strike in the 73rd minute served as the deciding goal of the night. His brace lit up yet another Clasico final on the big stage.

Late drama and red card tension

The closing stages were frantic in the classic show. Frenkie de Jong was sent off in stoppage time after a heavy challenge on substitute Kylian Mbappe, raising tension as Madrid pushed for a late equaliser. In the stoppage time chances came at both ends with Marcus Rashford firing wide and Barcelona surviving a couple of nervous moments at the back.

Flick’s perfect record continues

The victory extended Barcelona’s winning run to 10 matches and kept them unbeaten against Spanish sides since October. They now sit four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, adding weight to hopes of a trophy-filled season.

For Flick, it was another flawless night as the German has now won every final he has coached in including his time at Bayern Munich. And since the time he has taken charge, his side against Real has been ruthless.