Real Madrid down Barcelona to reach Spanish Super Cup final
Real Madrid needed extra time to beat Barcelona in the El Clasico semi-final of the Supercopa de Espana at the King Fahd Stadium.
Ernesto Valverde’s goal in the first half of added time was enough to seal it, as Xavi’s side grew in confidence and started to add purpose to their possession but couldn’t quite find the goal that would peg Real Madrid back a third time.
Barcelona had hogged the ball from the first whistle, but struggled to make inroads as Real Madrid defended in numbers.
It was the men in white that posed the biggest threat however, led by the pace and poise of Vinicius Jr. The Brazil striker set the tone from the front, pressing without the ball and always looking dangerous with it.
Several times he found Marcos Asensio with clever, shuffled passes and several times Asensio’s shooting let his side down.
The goal came when Vinicius decided to go alone. Sergio Busquets lost the ball to Karim Benzema who split the Barcelona back line to unleash him. He left Araujo flailing behind him and the finish past Ter Stegen was laser-sharp.
The goal woke Barcelona from their stupor and suddenly their press, and possession, started to click. After good work harrying in midfield, Luuk De Jong shuttled the ball out to Ousmane Dembele whose cross caused havoc.
Eder Militao tried too much with the clearance and fired the ball against the onrushing De Jong and past Courtois for the leveller.
After a furious flourish of half-chances at the start of the second period, the game found it’s early rhythm – Barcelona had the ball, Real Madrid had the chances.
Benzema again showed his class on the break. The France striker had already slammed a curled effort against the post when Ter Stegen could only push the ball into his path. He gobbled up the goal his performance had earned.
But Barcelona clawed themselves back into it with a simple header from substitute Ansu Fati after he was left free at the near post. With extra time looming, Barcelona pushed for the winner but were unable to create anything clear cut.
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Just minutes into extra time and Real Madrid again sprung and managed to make their mounting counter-attacking show. Vinicius was again central, selling the dummy that floored two defenders and allowed Valverde to slot home.
From there it was a matter of squeezing the game and the clock. They brought on the energy of Eduardo Camavinga who hustled in midfield and quelled any threat Barcelona could pose.
Camavinga had two chances to create a fourth but made the wrong choice on both occasions. Luckily for Madrid it didn’t matter.
It was a professional end to a counter-attacking masterclass and one that sees them face either Athletic Bilbao or Athletic Madrid in Sunday’s final.