REAL MADRID have been accused of an “ugly gesture” and “classless” reaction in their Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona.
On the park, El Clasico really was a class act as the two La Liga big hitters traded blows in a stunning five-goal thriller.
Raphinha’s deflected effort in the second period proved to be the match winner but at one point the two sides shared THREE stoppage time goals in the first half to somehow go in level 2-2 at the break.
It was a game that had a bit of everything, including a red card for Frenkie De Jong in the final minute for a lunge on Kylian Mbappe.
Marcus Rashford – a late sub for Hansi Flick’s men – won his first trophy for Barcelona on the same day Manchester United had their hopes of silverware this campaign dashed after an FA Cup third round exit.
It was a memorable night in Saudi Arabia for all connected with Barcelona – but the ending to the pulsating encounter grabbed attention for all the wrong reasons.
Spanish sports journalist and football commentator Alfredo Martinez was on duty for the game and made the claim of Los Blancos lacking class after losing to their rivals.
He wrote on X: “Real Madrid did not form the champions’ guard of honour for Barcelona. Barça had done so. Mbappé led them away from there. Ugly gesture. Inexplicable.”
He followed up that tweet with another saying: “Real Madrid says that it’s the Federation who tells them to go to another area because they were in the camera shot and that’s why they don’t do the guard of honour…..??”
Fans slammed the moment as “classless”.
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One social media user called Madrid “sore losers”.
Raphinha got the scoring under way for Barcelona as he drilled a low effort across Thibaut Courtois and into the bottom corner.
Vinicius Jr then levelled things up with a stunning solo effort before Robert Lewandowski struck back within minutes.
But in a crazy stoppage time at the end of the first half, Real levelled again to make it three goals in added-time as Gonzalo Garcia levelled.
Both sides had chances in the second period to take the lead but it was former Leeds United star Raphinha who watched his deflected effort loop into the air and beyond Courtois, who had already committed.
Real had two golden chances to level in added time but Alvaro Carreras shot straight down the throat of Garcia before Raul Asencio headed straight into his arms – much to the frustration of the Madrid players.
