Barça Edges Real Madrid 3-2 in Saudi Super Cup: Hydration, Hype, and a Twist
12 January 2026
Match Recap
Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-2 to claim the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, snatching the win with a late rally that electrified the arena.
Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid and Lamine Yamal of Barcelona were central to the postmatch chatter, as the finale added layers to an already heated rivalry.
Post Match Moments
A circulating clip shows Real players passing through a ceremonial tunnel while Barca teammates clap. Yamal paused, drank water, and did not clap for Real, sparking debate about sportsmanship.
Carvajal was the last Madrid player to pass, then leaned in to speak to Yamal and whisper something into his ear before celebrations continued.
AS described the moment as tense between Yamal and Carvajal, with pregame comments from Yamal cited as a point of contention for Madrid. The video drew widespread reactions and criticism of Yamal's actions.
During the trophy ceremony, Real players reportedly refused to form a guard of honour for Barca; Mbappé was noted as keeping his teammates away from the podium.
Overall, the final delivered drama that fuels the Clasico rivalry and leaves fans debating the finer points of conduct and spectacle.
Punchline 1: If drama were a sport, this final would be sponsored by suspense and served with a cold late-night whistle. Boom, headlines headshot.
Punchline 2: Sometimes hydration steals the show—water bottles, not players, deserve the standing ovation.
