Barcelona makes history with a third straight El Clásico final win over Real Madrid, claiming the 2026 Spanish Super Cup 3-2. Analysis of the rare feat and all-time final records.
Barcelona Achieves First-Ever Three-Peat in El Clásico Finals With Super Cup Win (Image: File)
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, January 12 — Barcelona achieved a historic first in the 124-year saga of El Clásico on Sunday, defeating Real Madrid 3-2 to win the Spanish Super Cup and secure a third consecutive victory over their arch-rivals in major finals. The result handed Real Madrid an unprecedented low of three straight final losses to Barcelona in their storied rivalry.
Barcelona’s victory marked the first time the club has won three consecutive finals against Real Madrid in all competitions. The Catalans previously won the 2025 Spanish Super Cup (5-2) and the 2025 Copa del Rey final (3-2 AET) before Sunday’s 3-2 triumph. Real Madrid had accomplished this feat twice in the past, but Barcelona had never done so.
In a match staged at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Barcelona’s Raphinha scored a brace (36’, 73’). A frenetic end to the first half saw three goals in stoppage time: Vinicius Jr. (45+2’) for Madrid, followed by immediate replies from Robert Lewandowski (45+4’) and Gonzalo García (45+4’) for Barcelona. The victory secured Barcelona a record-extending 16th Super Cup title.
The two giants have now met in 20 official finals across the Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, and Copa de la Liga. With this win, Barcelona narrowed Real Madrid’s overall lead in finals to a single victory: 11 wins for Madrid, 9 for Barcelona. The full record shows:
The outcome confirms Barcelona's recent supremacy in pivotal games under manager Hansi Flick, who has already won four titles since joining in 2024. It also highlights the modern shift in the Super Cup, where the last four finals have all been El Clásicos, with Barcelona winning three. Despite this, Real Madrid still leads the all-time head-to-head across 263 competitive matches with 105 wins to Barcelona’s 104.
While Real Madrid has suffered final defeats to Barcelona before, they had never lost three title-deciding matches in a row to their eternal rival. This phase reflects an uncommon dip in their record in major finals against each other, unlike previous periods when they ruled, including a four-final winning stretch from 1990 to 2011.
A: No. Despite both being semifinalists simultaneously on multiple occasions—including three direct semifinal clashes—the two clubs have never faced each other in the final of Europe’s premier competition.
A: With this victory, Flick has now won four trophies since becoming Barcelona manager in 2024, including two Spanish Super Cups.
