Barcelona It crushed its rival, Real Madrid, 5-2 In the final of the runaway Spanish Super Cup El Clásico in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to win the first title in the Hansi Flick era.

Kylian Mbappe put Real Madrid ahead, but a dominant Barcelona scored five goals in response before goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off in the second half.

Real Madrid were hoping to avenge their 4-0 defeat at home to Barcelona in October’s La Liga Clásico, but instead were battered and bruised by their arch rivals in Jeddah.

After Mbappé’s first goal, Lamine Yamal equalized, then Robert Lewandowski scored for Barcelona from a penalty kick, Rafinha scored a brace and Alejandro Balde also scored.

Rodrigo Goes pulled one back for Real Madrid from a free kick but they were unable to further capitalize on their numerical superiority in a humiliating defeat for the European champions.

“It’s really nice, it’s been a season since we won the title. It’s always special, and above all, in El Clasico against Real Madrid,” Barcelona defender Jules Kounde told Movistar.

He added: “We were very calm and patient, and we knew that if we implemented the plan we would win.

“I’m very proud and happy for the team… Right after the red card, we came together and said we would suffer and sit out, but we had a big advantage and this couldn’t get away from us.”

‘Bad defending’ cost Real Madrid the game

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said that his team’s weak defense was the main reason for the heavy defeat.

Ancelotti said in statements to Movistar: “We defended poorly and this cost us the match. They found their goals quite easily.”

“We are sad, like all our fans. It is disappointing, and we do not have to hide it… We have to look forward, there is nothing else we can do.”

Both coaches chose to keep the same lineup they started with in the semi-finals.

Yamal issued an early warning to Real Madrid with a powerful shot from the right side, which forced Thibaut Courtois to make a good save.

The Belgian goalkeeper also made a strong save to keep out Rafinha’s header after the Brazilian easily evaded Lucas Vazquez.

Despite Barcelona’s opening shot, it was Real Madrid who took the lead in the fifth minute with Mbappe’s stunning goal from a counter-attack.

The French striker, who was frustrated several times by the offside flag in the defeat to the Catalans in the league, ran from the halfway line after Vinicius won the ball back and, after bursting into the penalty area, beat Szczesny.

Barcelona comes back from a goal down

It took a stunning solo goal from 17-year-old Yamal to equalize, the Spanish winger cutting in from the right flank before curling the ball home inside the near post in a style similar to former Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, with whom he has often been compared.

Barcelona continued to press and took the lead through Lewandowski’s penalty kick after Eduardo Camavinga arrived late and carelessly hit Gavi.

Rafinha quickly added Barcelona’s third goal with a header from Kounde’s cross from deep, and they got the fourth goal before the end of the first half at the break.

Yamal and Rafinha combined and the latter sneaked past Balde, who shot the ball past Courtois.

Barcelona continued in the same vein after the break, and Rafinha scored the fifth goal with a wonderful dribble and finished the ball after a pass from Mark Casado.

The Catalan team was completed with ten players when Mbappé ran from the other side and dribbled past goalkeeper Chesney, who dropped him outside the penalty area and after the video assistant referee review was cancelled.

Rodrigo, who had hit the post earlier, fired the ball into the net from the free kick past Szczesny’s substitute, Iñaki Pena.

Bellingham and Mbappe leave the Real Madrid questions to Real Madrid

Mbappé passed the ball brilliantly to Jude Bellingham, but the England international blocked a wonderful intervention from Kounde in stoppage time.

The French striker came close to scoring again himself after a wonderful individual display, but Pena blocked his shot.

It was the best [Madrid player]Ancelotti said, pointing to the improvement after Mbappe’s rocky start at the club, following his move from Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona brought in midfielder Dani Olmo for his first appearance since he was registered to play for the club on a temporary basis, a controversial matter that cast a shadow over the semi-final earlier in the week.

However, their five-star display provided a host of other talking points as Barcelona won a record-extending 15th Spanish Super Cup.