Madrid must 'turn the page' after Supercopa defeat, says Alonso

Xabi Alonso insisted that his Real Madrid team must quickly "turn the page" after their Supercopa de Espana defeat to rivals Barcelona on Sunday. 

Alonso watched on as his team were beaten 3-2 in Saudi Arabia, with Los Blancos twice coming from behind to head into half-time all square with Hansi Flick's side. 

Raphinha opened the scoring before three goals in first-half stoppage time from Vinicius Junior, Robert Lewandowski and Gonzalo Garcia sparked the game into life. 

But the win was sealed in the 73rd minute by Raphinha, who saw his shot deflect off Raul Asencio and loop over Thibaut Courtois, but Madrid had their chances to level. 

After Barcelona saw captain Frenkie de Jong sent off, Alvaro Carreras and Asencio were presented with golden opportunities, but both fired straight at Joan Garcia. 

Indeed, the result saw Barcelona beat Madrid in three consecutive finals for the first time in their history, after back-to-back Supercopa victories and a Copa del Rey win. 

"Well, we have to turn the page as soon as possible, it's a game, it's a competition," Alonso told Movistar.

"We have to look forward, try to recover people, recover the state of mind and move forward."

Madrid had their chances to win the game, having posted an expected goals (xG) total of 1.39 from their 12 shots to Barcelona's 2.6 from their 16 attempts in the game. 

Garcia's goal in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time capped a crazy end to the first 45 minutes, with the young Spaniard also making his mark in his first Clasico. 

At 21 years and 293 days old, Garcia became the youngest Spanish player to start and score in a Clasico since Marcos Asensio in August 2019 (21y and 207d).

"It hurts in any way, it was an even match, very competitive, exciting," Alonso added.

"You have the taste that the last two chances we had were so clear, we were close to equalising and in the end we congratulate Barca. 

"A lot happened in those last 15 minutes. We had controlled well, without the ball, but we had the two clearest chances, we conceded the first goal.

"But the team showed its face. We went 2-2 and the second half was competitive. With nothing they were lucky in the goal, and we tried to equalise, but it was not to be."

For Los Blancos, they now return to Spain before finding themselves on the road again when they face second-tier side Albacete in the Copa del Rey last 16. 

They also find themselves four points behind Barcelona in LaLiga, while they sit seventh in the Champions League standings with two European matchdays remaining. 

"Losing a final against your opponent is never pleasant, now it's time to work for the Cup and the League," Courtois said.

"The details have been against us today, it is a period in these last months that things do not go as they should. We could have won the game perfectly.

"Nothing changes, we have to keep fighting, week after week, in La Liga, Champions League and the Cup."