FC Barcelona will face Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup after beating Betis 4-2 in the penalty shootout, this Thursday after finishing the second semifinal 2-2.
Robert Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead (40), but Nabil Fekir equalized (77) taking the match to extra time, in which Ansu Fati made it 2-1 (93) and Lorenzo Morón put the tables again (101) taking the game to penalties.
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In the decisive shootout, while Barcelona scored all four of their shots, Marc-André Ter Stegen saved Juanmi’s and Carvalho’s shots.
Barça will thus fight for a trophy that they have not yet won since it was played with its current ‘final four’ format.
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It is also the first time with the new format that the Super Cup will be decided in a classic between Barcelona and Real Madrid, who beat Valencia 4-3 on penalties on Wednesday, after drawing 1-1 in their semifinal.
“I am happy and satisfied. It has cost us a world to play the final”, said the Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernández.
The Barça advances
In a match that was expected to be even with two teams that wanted to go out and control the ball, Barcelona ended up imposing their best punch against Betis, who finished extra time with ten due to the expulsion of the Mexican Andrés Guardado (118).
“The team’s performance has left me very satisfied, we played a very complete game except for those first 25 minutes when Barcelona had more of the ball,” said Betic coach Manuel Pellegrini.
The azulgranas began dominating, moving the ball around quickly and arriving quickly on the wings, especially on the left where Ousmane Dembélé appeared.
Betis suffered during the first half hour, until Nabil Fekir began to come into play more and control the ball more.
A header from the Argentine Germán Pezzella put goalkeeper Marc André Ter Stegen (31) to the test, but when Betis reacted the Barca goal came.
In a Dembélé cross, Lewandowski finished off, his shot was deflected by a defender, but the rebound fell back to the Pole who did not miss with his second shot (40).
Betis did not give up and could have equalized before the break, but they found Ter Stegen, who thwarted the consecutive shots from Rodrigo Sánchez ‘Rodri’ and Luiz Henrique (45).
After the break, Betis took the lead and intensified their pressure in search of an equalizer, but suffered a sensitive drop from Sergio Canales, who remained on the bench at half-time, replaced by William Carvalho.
Betis responds
Betis managed to reach more of Barcelona’s area, which took a small step back in the second half, dedicating itself more to containment and being less aggressive than in the first 45 minutes.
“Two sides have been seen, the first part was fantastic and the second we weren’t up to the level”, Xavi complained.
The Verdiblancos had more of the ball until near the end Fekir appeared to hunt a ball in the heart of the area and equalize with a low shot close to the post (77).
The tie activated Barcelona, who pressed again and reached the goal of Claudio Bravo, who stretched to take a shot from Ansu Fati (90 + 2).
The young Barça striker, who had come on for Raphinha (84), reappeared to make it 2-1 after extra time with a great crossed volley (93).
The joy did not last long for Barça in the exchange of blows that turned into extra time when Lorenzo Morón equalized with a heel shot in front of the goal (101) taking the game to penalties.
In the decisive shootout, while Lewandowski, Kessié, Ansu and Pedri did not miss, Ter Stegen stopped the shots from Juanmi and Carvalho. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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