By Samuel A. January 15, 2024
Real Madrid cruised past Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final to become champions. Brazilian sensation Vnicius Jr scored a first half hat trick as Real Madrid put FOUR past the Catalan giants. The winger scored twice in the first 10 minutes to put Carlo Ancelotti’s side in control in Saudi Arabia. Robert Lewandowski pulled one back for Barca with a superb volley and gave Barcelona hope for a moment, but Vinicius converted a 39th minute penalty to complete his hat trick and kill any form of hope Barca had at the moment. Rodrygo then added a fourth in the second half before Ronald Araujo was sent off late in the game to complete Barca’s misery.
Vinicius, who recently returned from tearing a hamstring in November, celebrated his opener with Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous ‘SIUUU’ goal celebration inside Al Nassr’s King Saud University Stadium – where the former Real Madrid man currently plays. He said: “The celebration was dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo, because he is my idol and now he plays here.”
Madrid’s victory was the third straight in El Clasico and gave them a 13th Super Cup success, taking them just one behind Barcelona’s record 14 wins.
“We have not shown the level required for a match like this,” Barcelona Xavi said. “We played our worst game. We weren’t comfortable at any point. Madrid hurt us on the counter. I apologise to the fans because it was hard for us to compete and we showed our worst side.”
