Neymar’s masterclass in Santos’ 3–0 win away to Juventude was far more than a nostalgic reminder of his early days in Vila Belmiro; it was a season‑defining performance that dragged a giant club away from the relegation cliff and reasserted his status as a difference‑maker on the Brazilian stage. Playing through knee pain, the 33‑year‑old produced a ruthless 17‑minute hat‑trick that transformed a tense, anxious relegation fight into a night of hope and defiance for Santos. survival on the line This was not a dead‑rubber for mid‑table comfort; it was the 37th round of the Brasileirão, with Santos hovering dangerously close to the drop. They kicked off needing points to climb out of the relegation zone, while Juventude were already condemned to Serie B but still capable of turning the night into a nightmare for a fragile visitor. The pressure on Santos was immense. Results elsewhere involving direct rivals like Vitória and Internacional added further tension, with every goal in other s...
An remarkable benchmark was set with a spectacular pre-match show that included pyrotechnics, coordinated lights, and a drone projection that projected the Real Madrid and Barcelona emblems into the night sky over King Abdullah Sports City. The noise inside the crowded stadium in Jeddah, which holds 60,000 people, was deafening and piercing, and the throng had already reached fever pitch.
A decent game of football was all that was required, and boy, did it provide. Since taking on the role of Super Cup host in 2020, Saudi Arabia has made it a welcome habit to host spectacular Clásicos, but even by the Kingdom's prior excellent standards, this was something else.
However, Madrid took the lead with a quick counterattack that culminated in Kylian Mbappé's signature finish. In fewer than ten seconds, the French attacker opened the score off a Barcelona corner, sending the Madrid supporters into a frenzy.
Even though the game lasted only five minutes, there was more action than in many other games. As we've come to expect from El Clásico, the most renowned football rivalry in the world, which has seen 21 goals scored in the previous five games, it was intense and unrelenting.
With a five-minute lead against the run of play, Real Madrid had positioned themselves to get some retribution for losing to Barcelona 4-0 in La Liga less than three months prior.
However, Barcelona had different plans, and their relentless pressure soon paid off as Yamal equalized 17 minutes later with a well-placed goal. Enter the floodgates: a goal from Alejandro Baldé deep in first-half injury time, a penalty from Robert Lewandowski, and a header from Raphinha after Jules Koundé's exquisite deep pass sent Barça into halftime with a 4-1 lead and Real Madrid stunned.
The lack of unity that cost Real Madrid so much against their rivals in October returned to haunt them in Jeddah, despite Barcelona's brilliance.
Any hope of an unexpected Madrid comeback was dashed shortly after the half when Raphinha scored his second goal. Even a second Real Madrid goal from Rodrygo a few minutes beyond the hour mark and a red card for Barça goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny did not change the conclusion beyond what this game deserved: a resounding Barcelona triumph.
Barça has won the last two Clásicos by an aggregate score of 9-2 after losing four in a row. They have also won the Super Cup for a record-tying 15th time, keeping Real Madrid, who are tied at 13, at a distance.
It was a fitting conclusion to an incredible football extravaganza that attracted record crowds for the final on Sunday as well as for the three games combined since the Spanish Super Cup was moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020.
A total of 56,818 people from 135 different nations attended the final, including 3,693 women. 36,342 spectators from 107 countries, including 2,544 women, attended the first semi-final between Barcelona and Athletic Club. In contrast, 47,045 spectators from 122 countries, including 4,234 women, attended the second semi-final between Real Madrid and Mallorca. 10,471 women were among the 140,205 spectators who entered the Spanish Super Cup.
Saudi Arabia saw a Clásico worthy of the rivalry's renown for the fourth year in a row. Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 3-2 in the semi-finals in 2022 after extra time; Barcelona won the trophy 3-0 in 2023; and Real won the championship last year thanks to a hat-trick from Vinicius Junior. There is no denying that the 2025 showdown was the most memorable.
The countdown to the next desert showdown between Barcelona and Real Madrid has already started as both teams head back to Spain to continue their domestic duties.
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