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Xavi Secures First Trophy as Barcelona Manager in Spanish Super Cup Triumph
Xavi celebrated his inaugural trophy as Barcelona manager with a convincing win over arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final.
The La Liga leaders dominated the match in Saudi Arabia, taking the lead when 18-year-old Gavi netted from Robert Lewandowski's pass. Lewandowski extended the lead just before half-time, finishing from Gavi's delivery.
Gavi continued to shine in the second half, providing an assist for Pedri's goal. Karim Benzema managed a late consolation goal for Real Madrid, but it was not enough to overcome Barcelona's dominance.
Thibaut Courtois, the former Chelsea goalkeeper for Real Madrid, made crucial saves, preventing Barcelona from securing an even more significant victory. Courtois turned Lewandowski's effort onto the post early in the game and denied Ousmane Dembele's powerful strike.
With Pedri securing the third goal midway through the second half, Barcelona clinched the Super Cup, marking their first victory in the competition since 2018.
Real Madrid struggled to contain the brilliance of Gavi, who, besides his two assists, became the youngest scorer in a Spanish Super Cup, surpassing the record set by his current manager, Xavi.
These two teams previously clashed in the first El Clasico meeting of the season in October, where Real Madrid secured a 3-1 victory. However, Barcelona has since strengthened and currently leads La Liga, three points clear of Real, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine games.