Barcelona prevents Madrid from securing another title, yet the distance is narrowing.
Misa Rodríguez stood with her hands on her hips as Alexia Putellas celebrated by running away.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper had done everything within her power to keep her team in contention during Saturday’s Spanish Supercopa final in Castellón. She faced 18 shots from Barcelona, with 12 of those on target, and managed to handle nearly all of them.
However, it was not sufficient. In stoppage time, Putellas successfully converted a penalty, sending Rodriguez the wrong way, resulting in a definitive 2-0 victory for Barça.
The two-time Ballon d’Or recipient was quickly surrounded by her teammates, joyfully bouncing along the touchline. This was a familiar scene, as Barça secured their sixth Supercopa title, marking their fifth consecutive win since 2022.
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Madrid’s pursuit of their first trophy continues. Established in 2020, the team is eager for silverware. At the Estadio Castalia, Rodríguez and her teammates were left to contemplate how close they had come.
“It frustrates us, not so much because of their two goals — which is an area we need to improve and focus on — but because those positive feelings do not earn us the Supercopa,” Madrid coach Pau Quesada remarked afterward.
“In football, positive feelings contribute to development, but ultimately, winning is what counts. We fell short today, and we must return home disappointed. However, we recognize that the players gave their all.”
Madrid challenged Barcelona more than they had in last year’s Supercopa final, which Barça won 5-0, and perhaps closer than in any of their previous 20 encounters. Yet, victory remained elusive.
It is clear that the gap between the two teams is narrowing. Madrid achieved their first historic win in this matchup less than a year ago, defeating Barça 3-1 in front of a stunned crowd of 35,000 at Montjuic on March 23, 2025. This marked a significant breakthrough after 18 consecutive losses.
This moment felt transformative, potentially serving as a springboard for Madrid’s future. The perception of a diminishing gap was further supported by Barcelona’s cost-reducing transfer activities last summer, which weakened their squad.
The 2025-26 season offered a chance for Madrid. However, they have yet to capitalize on it. In Liga F, Madrid trails Barça by 10 points after 17 matches. They have already suffered three league defeats this season, surpassing their total losses from the entire 2024-25 campaign, including a 4-0 loss when the teams faced off in November.
For a club that prides itself on its trophy collection, the wait for their first continues. Madrid has now reached three finals: in the 2023 Copa de la Reina and two Supercopas, in 2025 and now 2026.
The Copa de la Reina final was particularly painful, as they lost on penalties to Atlético Madrid. Last season’s Supercopa final was one-sided, with Barça winning comfortably.
Saturday’s match told a different story. Esmee Brugts opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 28th minute with a header from Mapi Leon’s corner at the near post. After that, Madrid’s defense, along with Misa, held strong.
In the 58th minute, forward Ewa Pajor found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but her shot was saved. Caroline Graham Hansen’s follow-up header struck the crossbar.
It was only in the 93rd minute that Putellas’ penalty sealed the score at 2-0. Barcelona dominated possession with 67% compared to Madrid’s 33%, and had 12 shots on target against Madrid’s single attempt. Nevertheless, Madrid fought until the final whistle.
“It was an excellent match, deserving of a final, from both teams,” stated Barcelona’s MVP, midfielder Patri Guijarro.
Madrid’s focus will now shift to the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Their group stage concluded in disappointment, as they failed to secure a top-four position after not winning three of their last four matches, including a 1-1 draw against FC Twente in December on matchday six.
They are now set to face a playoff against Paris FC, a team they previously met in the group stage, where they drew 1-1 in Madrid. Following next month’s two-legged playoff, the winners will advance to the Champions League quarterfinals to face Barcelona.
Barcelona’s European experience — three-time Champions League winners and six-time finalists — is a benchmark that Madrid has yet to reach in women’s football.
However, this Supercopa final indicated that if the two teams meet in Europe in March, Madrid is now positioned to compete, whether over 90 minutes or 180.
This is not the limit of their aspirations; rather, it signifies progress.
