Barcelona바카라s title drought with coach Xavi 바카라 and without Lionel Messi 바카라 is finally over. (More Football News)
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-1 on Sunday to win the Spanish Super Cup at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and give its fans reasons to celebrate again after a revamping process that began following Messi바카라s departure for Paris Saint-Germain and the arrival of former player Xavi as coach in 2021.
바카라We바카라ve been through some tough years, with financial difficulties, Messi바카라s departure,바카라 Xavi said. 바카라It was not easy to bring back a positive dynamic. This will help give us some tranquility. We바카라ve been working hard from the beginning despite all the criticism, and we have to keep working.바카라
Barcelona had not lifted a trophy since the 2021 Copa del Rey under former coach Ronald Koeman. That was Messi바카라s 35th and final title with Barcelona before leaving amid the club바카라s financial struggles.
Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and Pedri scored a goal each in the final at King Fahd Stadium to give Barcelona its first Super Cup trophy since 2018 바카라 and its 14th overall 바카라 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 Pedri바카라s close-range goal in another breakaway in the 69th.
Karim Benzema scored for Madrid late in stoppage time.
바카라We knew we couldn바카라t miss this opportunity,바카라 Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets said. 바카라We바카라ve 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.
바카라It바카라s clear that at Barça you always have to win,바카라 Busquets said. 바카라We knew it was going to be like that after Xavi arrived, and now we finally have been able to do it.바카라
Madrid was trying to win its second consecutive Super Cup title in Saudi Arabia, and equal Barcelona바카라s record of 13 Super Cup trophies.
바카라It바카라s a tough loss and we have to learn from it,바카라 Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. 바카라We will improve and bounce back from it.바카라
Madrid eliminated Barcelona in last season바카라s semifinals, but the Spanish powerhouses had never met in the final of the revamped competition.
Both teams needed penalty shootouts to edge their opponents in the semifinals. Madrid beat Valencia and Barcelona defeated Real Betis.
Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 at home in the first 바카라clĂĄsico바카라 of the season at the Santiago BernabĂ©u Stadium in the Spanish league in October. It trails Barcelona by three points in the league this season.
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 despite criticism over the country바카라s human rights record.
ATLĂTICO HELD IN LEAGUE
AtlĂ©tico Madrid was held to a 1-1 draw at AlmerĂa in the Spanish league, staying in fourth place and tied on points with fifth-place Villarreal and sixth-place Real Betis.
Ăngel Correa put AtlĂ©tico ahead in the 18th but El Bilal TourĂ© equalized for the hosts in the 37th. AtlĂ©tico defender Sergio ReguilĂłn entered the match as a substitute in the 67th but was sent off with consecutive yellow cards in the 89th.
Atlético was coming off a 1-0 home loss to leader Barcelona, which is 13 points ahead of Atlético.
AlmerĂa, winless in three straight league games, stayed in 13th place.
Earlier Sunday, Espanyol moved further from the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Getafe, with Joselu scoring the opening goal for the hosts with a shot from near the halfway line as the Getafe goalkeeper got caught out of position.
Defending league champion Madrid is in second place and Real Sociedad, which beat Athletic Bilbao 3-1 in the Basque Country derby on Saturday, is third.
