Barcelona hammered rivals Real Madrid 5-2 in a wild Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to win the first trophy of coach Hansi Flick’s reign.

Kylian Mbappe put Madrid ahead but a dominant Barcelona hit five in response before their goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off in the second half.

Barcelona hammered rivals Real Madrid 5-2 in a wild Spanish Super Cup Clasico final in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to win the first trophy of the Hansi Flick era.

The electric Kylian Mbappe sent Madrid ahead but a dominant Barcelona hit five in response before their goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off in the second half.

Madrid were hoping to avenge their 4-0 defeat by Barcelona in October’s La Liga Clasico but instead were left battered and bruised by their arch-rivals in Jeddah.

After Mbappe’s opener, Lamine Yamal levelled and Robert Lewandowski sent Barcelona ahead from the penalty spot, with Raphinha bagging a brace and Alejandro Balde also on target.

Rodrygo Goes pulled one back for Madrid with a free-kick but they could not capitalise further on their numerical advantage in a humiliating defeat for the European champions.

Both Flick and his opposite number Carlo Ancelotti opted to maintain the same line-ups they started with in the semi-finals.

Yamal issued Madrid an early warning with a curling effort from the right which forced Thibaut Courtois into a fine save.

The Belgian goalkeeper also produced a strong stop to keep a Raphinha header at bay after the Brazilian evaded Lucas Vazquez with ease.

Despite Barcelona’s opening salvo it was Real Madrid who took the lead in the fifth minute with Mbappe’s brilliant goal on the counter-attack.

The French forward, frustrated numerous times by the offside flag in the league defeat by the Catalans, broke loose on the halfway line after Vinicius won the ball back and, after bursting into the area, clipped past Szczesny.

It took a stunning individual goal from 17-year-old Yamal to level the scoreline, with the Spanish winger cutting in from the right before stroking home a low finish inside the near post in a similar style to former Barca great Lionel Messi, whom he is often compared to.

Inigo Martinez hobbled off injured and Flick sent on Ronald Araujo in his place, amidst heavy transfer speculation the Uruguayan defender wants to leave the club.

Brilliant Barca

Barcelona kept pushing and moved ahead through Lewandowski’s penalty after Eduardo Camavinga arrived late and carelessly clattered Gavi.

Raphinha soon added Barcelona’s third with a header from Jules Kounde’s cross from deep and they grabbed their fourth before half-time on the break.

Yamal and Raphinha combined and the latter slipped in Balde, who slotted past Courtois.

Barcelona continued in the same vein after the break and Raphinha netted the fifth with a neat dribble and finish after Marc Casado played him in.

The Catalans were reduced to 10 men when Mbappe sped in at the other end, rounding goalkeeper Szczesny, who brought him down outside the area and after a VAR review was dismissed.

Rodrygo, who earlier hit the post, rifled home the free-kick past Szczesny’s replacement Inaki Pena.

Mbappe brilliantly teed up Jude Bellingham but the England international was denied by a superb Kounde challenge in stoppage time.

The French forward also came close to scoring again himself on a fine individual display but Pena tipped away his effort.

Barcelona brought on midfielder Dani Olmo for his first appearance since he was registered to play for the club on a temporary basis, a controversial issue which overshadowed the semi-finals earlier in the week.

However their five-star display offered a host of other talking points as Barca won a record-extending 15th Spanish Super Cup.

AFP

Altay Bayindir was Manchester United’s unlikely hero as the holders held out for over an hour a man down to knock Arsenal out the FA Cup on penalties after a feisty 1-1 draw at the Emirates on Sunday.

United’s stand-in goalkeeper saved a penalty from Martin Odegaard in normal time and then denied Kai Havertz in the shootout as the wasteful Gunners had another day to forget in front of goal.

Bruno Fernandes had fired the visitors into the lead early in the second half before Diogo Dalot was sent-off on the hour mark for a second bookable offence.

Gabriel Magalhaes quickly levelled for Arsenal, but they wasted a host of chances to win the tie in 90 minutes and were made to pay.

United were perfect from the spot as the much-criticised Josua Zirkzee stroked home the winning penalty in front of the jubilant travelling support.

Defeat is another hammer blow to Mikel Arteta’s attempts to end a five-year trophy drought for Arsenal, who also lost the first leg of their League Cup semi-final 2-0 to Newcastle on Tuesday.

The Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Desmond Amadin Enabulele has confirmed Coach Greg Ikhenoba as the substantive Head Coach of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin.

He also announced the appointment of Mr Austin Iyamu and Peter Obanor as the Technical Director and Team Manager of Bendel Insurance FC respectively.

The Sports Commission, in the same vein, announced the appointment of Coach Rollanson Aituairi
Odeh the General Manager of Edo Queens FC in his strategic plans for the effective management of the two state-owned clubs.

Others appointed by the Commission chairman included Mr Idemudia Osigbemen as Insurance FC scouting coach while Mr. Anthony Ipogah, was appointed as Edo Queens players’ scouting coach.

Princess Omoyemwen Adeyinka Afolabi was appointed as the welfare officer of Edo Queens.

Coach Greg Ikhenoba was confirmed as the substantive Head coach of Bendel Insurance FC, following his ability to guide the team out of relegation after the resignation of his former boss, coach Monday Odigie who was head coach and technical director.

The appointment of Austin Iyamu was a replacement for the vacant position of Coach Monday Odigie.

Following the outstanding performance of Edo Queens in the 2023/24 NWFL premiership and CAF Women’s Champions League, the Sports Commission boss renewed Moses Aduku’s contract as the Head Coach of Edo Queens.

As a result, Aduku has signed to remain with Edo Queens for two more years.

Enabulele charged the newly appointed officials of the state-owned football clubs to bring their expertise and experience to bear in the discharge of their professional duties as much is expected from them.

He also called for synergy between new appointees and other members of the teams in driving the process of change for
the overall development of the clubs

Enabulele added that the new appointments were based on their professional track records in the game of football

Meanwhile, the Edo State Sports Commission has perfected plans to unveil the newly appointed coaches, team manager and players of Bendel Insurance FC on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

The unveiling ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM at the New Festival Hall, Government House Benin City.