Xavi Hernandez is facing renewed pressure in his position as Barcelona’s coach after his side were on the receiving end of a 4-1 Clasico mauling from Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana final.
After defeating Osasuna in the semi-final, Los Cules had hopes of another trophy returning to Catalonia on Sunday evening, yet in reality they scarcely deserved to be on the same pitch as Los Blancos.
The making of Vinicius Jr.’s brutal tattoo
With the game played against the backdrop of the eerily quiet atmosphere that comes with holding the match in Riyadh, Real Madrid adapted to the flow of the match much the better of the two sides, and they didn’t even have to be at full flow to dispense with their fiercest rivals.
The rout began in the first-half, with Vinicius Jr. putting in a Clasico performance for the ages, netting a hat-trick before the break.
Ironically, it was Barcelona who could have struck first with Robert Lewandowski spurning a good chance inside the opening five minutes.
The Polish forward received the ball inside the box and found himself one-on-one with Andriy Lunin in the Real Madrid goal. However, the Ukrainian goalkeeper made a smart reflex save.
From that moment onwards it was all Real Madrid. It took Vinicius Jr. just three minutes after that Lewandowski chance to open the scoring.
Jude Bellingham played a sumptuous pass in behind and the Brazilian delicately placed the ball beyond the onrushing Inaki Pena to make it 1-0.
Rodrygo was then the provider for his international teammate, placing a pass into a perfect position for Vinicius Jr.
He tapped the ball home from close-range and made it 2-0, although Barcelona did then hit the crossbar through Ferran Torres on the counter attack.
Los Cules thought they were back in the game when Lewandowski rattled a first-time shot into the back of the net from outside of the box, yet the team’s defense immediately let them down.
Almost from the kick-off, Ronald Araujo committed a foul inside the box, which Vinicius Jr. converted into the bottom left corner to complete his hat-trick.
Xavi will face increased pressure
Joan Laporta had been clear prior to the trip to Saudi Arabia that Xavi wasn’t under threat of losing his job.
However, Ernesto Valverde lost his job at the Camp Nou after a similarly dismal Supercopa de Espana showing, and with Rafa Marquez in the wings, there will be immense pressure on the coach upon his return to Spanish soil.
Real Madrid completing the scoring in the 64th minute of play, with Rodrygo getting in on the act.
A shot from distance was rebounded into the path of the Brazilian, and he was able to tuck then ball into the bottom corner of the net from close range, completing a simply humiliating evening for Barcelona. Things got worse when Araujo was sent off for a second bookable offense.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, can now turn their focus back to LaLiga EA Sports and their expected title fight with Girona, as well as a Champions League last-16 tie with RB Leipzig.
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