Raphinha mentality stood out as Barcelona triumphed over Real Madrid, securing the Spanish Super Cup in a fiercely contested final held in Jeddah. Coach Hansi Flick lauded the Brazilian forward’s exceptional mindset and dynamic influence after his crucial brace led the team to a 3-2 victory on Sunday.
The winger’s impressive form continues, marked by seven goals in his last five appearances. This purple patch includes both strikes in the Super Cup decider against Los Blancos in Saudi Arabia. Raphinha’s powerful return comes after he faced a two-month injury layoff, during which Barcelona’s performance experienced a noticeable dip in October and November.
Praising Raphinha’s Mentality and Impact
Hansi Flick expressed strong admiration for his forward’s approach. “His mentality is unbelievable, his dynamic affects the whole team,” Flick told reports. An early missed opportunity in the first half did not deter Raphinha, who almost immediately fired Barca into the lead at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Later, with the score deadlocked at 2-2, the 29-year-old struck the decisive goal from outside the box, aided by a deflection.
Flick further elaborated on Raphinha’s resilience: “He missed the first chance but the second one, he was there and (scored) the first goal, and it gave the team more confidence. This is what Raphinha brings on the pitch, it’s a lot of intensity and we need this.” SindhNews.com reported on the match later.
A Thrilling Encounter and Strategic Victory
The Super Cup final proved a nail-biting spectacle, featuring four goals packed into a dramatic conclusion to the first half. After an even start, Barcelona asserted control, with Raphinha’s first goal breaking the deadlock in the 36th minute. Real Madrid responded brilliantly through Vinicius Jr. in stoppage time, only for Robert Lewandowski to restore Barca’s lead minutes later. Gonzalo Garcia equalized for Real just before the interval, setting the stage for Raphinha’s second-half winner in the 73rd minute.
Despite Frenkie de Jong’s late red card, reducing Barcelona to 10 men, Real Madrid couldn’t capitalize. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia made crucial saves from Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono to clinch Barcelona’s 16th Super Cup title. Speaking after the loss, Real’s coach Xabi Alonso remarked, “Whatever way you lose it hurts, but it’s clear that this was a very even game… we fought it out until the end.”
For Barcelona, this victory, their tenth consecutive across all competitions, holds significant importance. Flick hopes it will fuel their ambition to achieve further success this season, with their confidence significantly boosted.