El Clásico-Supercopa De España edition: FC Barcelona reign supreme over Real Madrid

Photo Credit: FC Barcelona

The Supercopa de España may be perceived as a worthless tournament or simply additional matches amidst a congestion calamity yet for the teams involved, it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to showcase your excellence, power and strength. An opportunity to welcome the first trophy of an arduous season that culminates as a source of determination and a cause to strive for more during the remainder of the season. A demonstration of the worth and importance of the Supercopa resonated within the competitors was shown through the declarations from Alberto Toril, Real Madrid head coach, voicing his displeasure at Barcelona deciding their own schedule opposing his side alongside the Catalans also holding an additional day of rest after defeating Atletico Madrid 3-0 Wednesday whilst his team played Thursday against Real Sociedad in a 3-2 victory in his pre-match press conference.

"I don't quite understand the timing, the schedule. We're playing with less than three days of difference, clearly benefiting the team that won the other semifinal," the coach voiced.

Barça’s manager Pere Romeu responded during his press conference "The rules are very clear," "If you win LaLiga and Copa de la Reina, as we did, you get to choose when you train as the designated home team.” "We made the decision and that's it. A final is always extra motivation, regardless of the competition or the opposition, because you are 90 minutes away from a trophy. And it would be my first, I hope of many, as the coach.” “Toril's complaints have only served as extra motivation for the game. We're going to go out there and show on the pitch that we deserve to win the trophy, and we will give everything possible to do that."

Toril’s claims have also further been falsified by the fact that Barça’s rest period was spent travelling home to their northeastern home in Catalunya as Leganés is a city embedded in the capital’s metropolitan area.

Barcelona and Spain number 1 Cata Coll found the humorous aspect of Toril’s disagreements. "It made me laugh," "Last year we played the second semifinal and won the trophy, so that shows how much of an influence there is.” "We are playing here in Madrid and have had a lot of travelling this week. They can come to Barcelona.” "There are always advantages or disadvantages for all teams. It's making excuses for the sake of it. At the end of the day, you have to play the game and do your talking on the pitch."

Furthermore, the financial means of the tournament have also been under intensive investigation in a manner of equality and obvious economic disparities within the federation and football collectively. FC Barcelona received €50,000, finalists being gifted €15,000 and semi-finalists Atlético de Madrid and Real Sociedad alike receiving €10,000. Comparably in Jeddah for the men’s Supercopa merely weeks ago minimally for participation the male delegations of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid pocketed €6 million with Barcelona getting a bonus of €2 million for championing against the Blancos who themselves collected a €1 million bonus to appease finishing runner up to their enemies. The semi-finalist in Saudi Arabia Athletic Club and RCD Mallorca sustained €750,000. Rumours are currently circulating about a future Supercopa de España Femenina to be held in the middle east (talks innaugrated by former RFEF president Luis Rubiales and now deepened in his absence).

Despite the surrounding critiques and drama, the reigning champions ignored it all and were not distracted by the controversy by running riot in this Supercopa thriller. Claiming victory in a historic final (the first Supercopa final against Real Madrid) 5-0.

The Blaugranas asserted dominance imminently and frontwoman Ewa Pajor netted the opening goal of the match in the 8 th minute from a rebound of a Graham Hansen attempt, unsuccessfully denied by Canarian goalkeeper Maria Isabel “Misa” Rodriguez, albeit disallowed for offside yet in the 32nd minute marked the official first goal from Caroline Graham Hansen, freshly returning from injury in the semifinal against Atletico Madrid, passing a distracted Misa to the other side of the goal following a deflection from French defender Maelle Lakrar.

5 minutes later, Ewa Pajor finally achieving her deserved goal finalising a right-wing rapid attack from Ona Batlle. The Blancos had feasible chances to level the score yet hesitation and perhaps lacking in confidence enabled the stellar defence of the leaders to regain possession and control of the ball.

On the other end in the dying moments of the half, perfectly executed set piece in 45+4 from Caroline Graham Hansen to Ewa Pajor to head home and claim a 3-0 deficit going to the break. Both sides remained unchanged following the restart, with the early minutes seeing Barcelona denied a penalty with VAR (which was unavailable for the first 70 minutes of the first semifinal) cited Aitana Bonmati fell rather than being challenged.

The certified greatest goal of the game and arguably the greatest goal of the season so far arrived in the 62ndminute with Mallorcan midfielder Patricia “Patri” Guijarro scoring a worldie from outside the box, a combination of finesse and power sent the ball flying passed her compatriot and into the top corner.

Colombian “wonderkid” Linda Caicedo scored what would be solely a consolation for the Madridistas yet was immediately disallowed for an evident offside, unfortunate as a result of the excellent run prior to the goal.

Real Madrid still didn’t prevail with any power or determination to dominate play, and the ball stayed in Barcelona possession in Madrid territory stylishly completed by an inevitable header from two-time Ballon d’Or winner and FC Barcelona Femeni’s all-time top scorer Alexia Putellas who is also the highest scorer in an El Clásico with Real Madrid being both Real Madrid and previously CD Tacón. 5 goals for the fifth Supercopa in this historical fixture.

The RFEF implemented the slogan "Don't wait for dusk to see the stars!” for the occasion and this final epitomised this entirely. For the future Supercopa’s, the future of Spanish women’s football and women’s football globally. “Don’t wait for dusk to see the stars!”

Lineups:

1-Cata Coll (GK)

22-Ona Battle (77) 4-Mapi León

2-Irene Paredes

16-Fridolina Rolfo (64) 14-Aitana Bonmati

12-Patri Guijarro

11-Alexia Putellas ©

10-Caroline Graham Hansen (64)

17-Ewa Pajor

9-Claudia Pina (77)

Real Madrid

1-Misa Rodríguez (GK)

7-Olga Carmona ©

23-Maelle Lakrar

14- María Méndez

5-Antonia Silva

6-Sandie Toletti

21-Filippa Angeldahl

18-Linda Caicedo

10-Caroline Weir

11-Alba Redondo

9-Signe Bruun