Spanish Super Cup: Why Barcelona beat Real Madrid 5-2 – Ancelotti

Published

1 year ago

January 13, 2025

Real Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti has explained why Barcelona defeated his team 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.

Kylian Mbappe had given the Los Blancos an early lead in the 5th minute in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

But Barcelona bounced back to swing the match in their favour.

Lamine Yamal scored the equaliser in the 22nd for Hansi Flick’s side before Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Alejandro Balde all scored before half-time to give Barca a 4-1 lead.

Raphinha then added a fifth after the break as Barca goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny was sent off for a foul on Mbappé in the 56th minute.

Rodrygo pulled one back for the LaLiga champions as the match eventually ended 5-2 in favour of the Blaugrana.

Speaking to the media in the press room of the King Abdullah Sports City stadium after the Spanish Super Cup final, Ancelotti insisted that his team did not defend well against the Catalan club.

“We have to look at the reality and that is that we did not defend well in the opposition half or with the low block,” Ancelotti said.

“They scored goals very easily and we didn’t work well either collectively or individually because we lost a lot of duels.

“We are sad and disappointed and we’ll take that sadness home with us. That’s football.”

2026 World Cup: Super Eagles waiting for FIFA’s decision – Iwobi

Published

20 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Super Eagles playmaker, Alex Iwobi, has admitted they are waiting to see if the team would still play at the 2026 World Cup.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is optimistic of a potential lifeline from FIFA, after it submitted a petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Iwobi was asked by SuperSport if he would rather lift the AFCON 2025 trophy or qualify for the World Cup?

The 29-year-old, who played at the 2018 of the World Cup, replied: “I mean we’re still waiting, well hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but I feel it’s a tough one.

“It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have like in your career, a memorable moment.

“But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates to not go to the World Cup. So it’s a tough one. I don’t know. I don’t know.”

Politics

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONDOLES WITH SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE OF THE SUPER EAGLES ON THE PASSING OF HIS MOTHER

Published

1 week ago

January 30, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Tinubu sends his condolences

to Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze on the passing of his mother.

The President also extends his sympathies to the family and friends of Mrs Sarah Chukwueze, who passed away on Thursday.

President Tinubu mourns with the Chukwueze family and encourages them to find solace in the memory and legacy of their late matriarch.

“The passing of Mrs Chukwueze, the mother of one of our bright football stars, just a few days after the passing of Super Eagles’ captain Wilfred Ndidi’s father, is deeply saddening.

I mourn with them, and I am with them in prayers during this difficult time,” the President says.

President Tinubu prays that God Almighty will grant the departed eternal rest.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)