Jeddah: The post-match ceremony following Barcelona’s 3–2 victory over Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España final has sparked considerable debate, particularly regarding the absence of a guard of honour.
As Barcelona was set to celebrate their win in Jeddah, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe stepped in, advising his teammates and then-coach Xabi Alonso to exit the pitch instead of offering a guard of honour to the victors. This incident has led to speculation that it may have influenced Alonso’s subsequent departure as reports indicate he was uncomfortable with Mbappe’s strong position, especially since he had instructed the team to acknowledge Barcelona’s title win. The situation reportedly left Alonso feeling that his authority in the locker room was diminishing.
Further complicating matters, a video that has circulated on social media has reignited discussions about Barcelona’s behavior during the medal ceremony. The footage shows teenage forward Lamine Yamal standing apart while Real Madrid players lined up for their runners-up medals. Instead of joining his team in forming a guard of honour, Yamal stood several yards back, drinking from a bottle. He was later observed exchanging words with Madrid captain Dani Carvajal before proceeding to collect his medal.
What Happened in the Final?
The match itself unfolded at a thrilling pace, with both sides exchanging control early on. Barcelona opened the scoring with Raphinha netting the first goal at the 36-minute mark, setting the stage for an explosive end to the first half.
In a remarkable flurry of activity during stoppage time, three goals were scored in quick succession. Vinicius Junior equalized for Real Madrid, only for Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and Gonzalo Garcia to also find the net, resulting in a 2–1 scoreline as they went to halftime.
The second half remained tightly contested, with neither team relinquishing dominance. Ultimately, Barcelona secured the decisive moment through Raphinha, who scored again with 17 minutes left, completing his brace and tilting the balance back in Barcelon’s favor. From that point on, Barcelona was forced to adopt a defensive posture as Real Madrid pressed forward in search of an equalizer.
