Real Madrid Starts New Era with Supercup Victory Over Barcelona
On a late September night in Zaragoza in 2012, Real Madrid’s basketball project under Pablo Laso found its first major statement win. At the Príncipe Felipe Pavilion, against eternal rivals Barcelona and under the weight of expectation, Madrid didn’t just lift the Spanish Supercup. They imposed themselves, 84-95, and announced that the balance of power was shifting.
It was their second Spanish Basketball Supercup, but this one carried a different tone. This was not a one-off trophy. It felt like the beginning of something.
Rudy lights it up
On the biggest stage of the weekend, Rudy Fernández took complete control of the final. The forward delivered the kind of performance that defines a tournament: 22 points, a performance index rating of 25, and a constant sense that every big moment had his fingerprints on it.
He attacked the rim, hit from outside, and set the competitive tone on both ends. Every time Barcelona threatened to close the gap, Rudy found a way to answer. By the final buzzer, there was no debate. He walked away as MVP of the competition, the clear reference point of Madrid’s title run.
Support cast with starter’s impact
Rudy led, but he did not carry the load alone. Sergio Llull, relentless as ever, added 14 points, driving the tempo and punishing Barcelona in transition. Jaycee Carroll came in as a specialist and did exactly what Real Madrid needed: 17 points, sharp shooting, and momentum-changing baskets that cut through Barcelona’s defensive schemes.
Those contributions turned Madrid’s offense into a constant wave. Barcelona had to pick their poison. Close out on Carroll and Llull, and Rudy attacked. Focus on Rudy, and the guards punished them from the perimeter. The scoreboard told the story: 95 points in a final against one of Europe’s most disciplined defenses.
Job done in the semifinal
The road to the title started with a professional, controlled win over hosts Zaragoza in the semifinal. Real Madrid handled the pressure of playing the home team, closing out a 64-72 victory that never descended into chaos.
It wasn’t spectacular. It didn’t need to be. Madrid did their work, managed the game, and preserved energy and clarity for the showdown everyone expected: a final against Barcelona.
A trophy that meant more than a cup
When the final ended and Real Madrid lifted the Supercup, it was about more than a piece of silverware. Laso’s side had taken down Barcelona in a decisive game, with authority, and with a brand of basketball that combined pace, talent, and aggression.
On September 23, 2012, in Zaragoza, Real Madrid didn’t just win the Spanish Basketball Supercup. They sent a message that their new cycle had truly begun.
