Vinicius Junior's first-half hat-trick propelled Real Madrid to a resounding 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. The match, held in Saudi Arabia, saw Robert Lewandowski score for Barcelona, but the night turned dismal with a red card for defender Ronald Araujo.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, now tied with Zinedine Zidane in trophies won at the helm of Los Blancos, praised Vinicius's return to form: "He's back to his best level." Ancelotti acknowledged the tough game and expressed a belief that the result was overly favorable, considering Barcelona's performance.
Vinicius's early goals, reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic celebrations, set the tone for Madrid's dominance. Barcelona, hoping for a season-reviving win, faced a relentless onslaught as Vinicius netted two goals within the first ten minutes. Despite Xavi's tactical adjustments, including a four-man midfield, Barcelona struggled to contain Madrid's counter-attacks.
Sergi Roberto expressed frustration at the defeat, emphasizing the impact of Vinicius's early goals. Barca's coach Xavi acknowledged the disappointment but urged learning from the loss, emphasizing other competitions ahead.
The match showcased Vinicius's sublime form after returning from injury, with a hat-trick completed by a penalty, securing his first Clásico hat-trick and doubling his goal tally against Barcelona. Araujo's red card added to Barcelona's woes, and Rodrygo sealed Real Madrid's victory with a fourth goal.
The Spanish Super Cup triumph marked Real Madrid's 13th title in the competition, avenging last year's final defeat by arch-rivals Barcelona.
