Real Madrid vs Barcelona live updates: Vinicius hits hat-trick in 4-1 El Clasico Spanish Super Cup final rout

Real Madrid have now scored four goals in two of their last three matches against Barcelona, having also done so in a 4-0 win in the Copa del Rey semi-finals in April of last season.

That matches the number of times they had scored four goals against Barca across their previous 73 meetings!

Toni Kroos was exceptional again tonight, and the whistles he received from Saudi fans will have just added to his enjoyment.

The German ran the game, as he so often does. He had 76 touches and completed 62 out of 65 passes attempted, along with recording three tackles, two interceptions and one blocked shot, which made for an impressive performance, as usual.

But they do not tell the full story of Kroos’ influence both in keeping Real Madrid moving and stopping Barca completely.

Referee Martínez Munuera blows up right on 90 minutes, putting Barca out of their misery.

I get the feeling that the repercussions for Xavi and Barca might be more significant than the celebrations by Madrid and Ancelotti…

Barcelona are spared having to survive stoppage time without conceding any further goals, as the referee blows the whistle for full time immediately at 90 minutes.

Real Madrid are Spanish Super Cup champions!

85′ Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona

Fermin Lopez goes in a bit late on Camavinga, prompting Mendy and Tchouameni to take exception.

We’ll do well to avoid any further red cards here.

82′ Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona

Real make a further two changes.

Luka Modric comes on for Toni Kroos, who receives one last round of boos from the crowd for criticising Saudi Arabia’s human rights record back in August.

Eduardo Camavinga also comes on in place of hat-trick hero Vinicius Jr.

80′ Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona

There were many doubts about Real’s XI in the run-up to this game, but this victory can serve as a turning point for Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian manager has already said that Lunin will play against Atlético de Madrid in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, and in the lead-up to today he defended Ferland Mendy. The two of them now seem to be the two most likely to beat Kepa and Camavinga in the starting XI.

79′ Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona

Kounde clears a Bellingham shot off the line!

It’s hard to believe but things could get even worse for Barca here.

77′ Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona

Carlo Ancelotti makes his first change of the night, bringing on semi-final hero Brahim for Rodrygo.

75′ Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona

In a team lacking leadership, Ronald Araujo is one of the few players who is a leader. His game today is the thermometer of how Barca are right now.

He is playing much worse than he was last year, and seemed disconnected from the game for 71 minutes until his sending off.

74′ Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona

This getting embarrassing now for Barca.

You could argue that Araujo was at least showing some fight, but that was a clear yellow and his frustration had just boiled over.

Vini’s night just keeps getting better and better though.

71′ Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona

Araujo is shown a second yellow for petulantly kicking the ankle of Vinicius Jr and things have gone from bad to worse for Barca.

68′ Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona

Pedri, who came off before Real’s fourth goal, wasn’t ready for more than an hour of game time today after just being cleared from an injury last Thursday.

Barcelona fans have reason to believe it would have been worth it to have the Spanish star at full power for 30 minutes as a solid game changer from the bench, rather than him not fully fit from the start.

65′ Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona

There’s a real impression here that Madrid can score as many as they want, if they really push for it.

Kounde inadvertently set that goal up nicely for Rodrygo to slide in the finish. But every Madrid player looks to have time and space to do what they want.