Barcelona wins Super Cup

Riyadh, January 16 (PL) - Barcelona kicked off 2023 in style by winning its first crown of the year, the Spanish soccer Super Cup, with a 3-1 success against Real Madrid in the final played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Goals from Pablo Martín Páez "Gavi" in the 33rd minute, Poland's Robert Lewandowski (45th) and Pedro González "Pedri" (69th) gave the Azulgranas their 14th title in the history of the competition, the first since the trophy began to be played as a four-team tournament.

France's Karim Benzema scored in stoppage time (90+3) for Madrid at the King Fahd Stadium.

The Catalans lifted their first trophy for the first time since winning the Copa del Rey in 2021 and on Sunday they managed the ball well and took advantage of the spaces given by the Merengues to score twice in the first half.

Real Madrid improved in the second half, but did not find their best version to turn around a challenge, dominated by the azulgranas with clarity and intensity.

Gavi was named best player of the Spanish Super Cup final, in which he scored the first goal and provided two assists.

The 18-year-old played as a left winger, a tactical change by coach Xavi Hernandez that worked to perfection.