Real Madrid lost in the final of the Spanish Super Cup to FC Barcelona, ending a long-standing record.
“You don’t play in finals, you win them.” Alfredo Di Stéfano’s famous words will be ringing in the ears of the Madrid players, as well as the laughter from the Barcelona dressing room, after they fell to a humiliating 1-3 defeat in the final of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday 15 December.
But when was the last time Real Madrid lost a final? Was it back when TV was in black and white? Maybe it was just after the extinction of the dinosaurs?
When did Real Madrid last reach a final?
The last cup final Madrid played in before the Super Cup was the Champions League final against Liverpool at the Stade de France, where they won 1-0 thanks to a Vinicius strike around the hour mark. That was the culmination of an extraordinary run that saw them achieve a multitude of near-impossible victories, turning games on their head that many thought were foregone conclusions.
In terms of other trophies, Madrid got to play in the UEFA Super Cup thanks to their European success, and they defeated Eintracht Frankfurt, winners of the Europa League, 2-0, with goals from Alaba and Benzema.
Madrid’s last final loss
Real Madrid generally don’t lose finals. The last time they lost a Champions League final - then called the European Cup - was, curiously, against Liverpool in the Stade de France in the 1980-81 season. In terms of the most recent final defeat for Madrid apart from the Barcelona Spanish Super Cup debacle of this season, it came against city rivals Atlético Madrid way back in 2018-19, when they faced the Colchoneros in the UEFA Super Cup.
They lost that game 2-4 after extra time, with Diego Costa - remember him? - getting two of Atlético’s goals. Saúl - remember him? - and Koke got the others. A Benzema header and Sergio Ramos penalty served only as consolation goals for Los Blancos.
The problems for Real Madrid in their defeat to Barcelona were highlighted as the Catalan team sliced them to pieces. It was a defeat that will hurt in the days and weeks to come, and most of all because they are not used to losing in finals.