After a 2-2 draw on Thursday, Barcelona won on penalties to beat Betis 4-2 and advance to the Clasico Super Cup final. Marc-Andre ter Stegen made two saves from the spot to help Barcelona win.
After Carlo Ancelotti’s team defeated Valencia on penalties on Wednesday, the Catalans will play their bitter rivals Real Madrid on Sunday.
After an entertaining draw that lasted 120 minutes at Riyadh’s King Fahd Stadium, Barcelona needed penalty kicks to defeat Betis. Robert Lewandowski gave Barcelona the lead after 40 minutes, but Betis playmaker Nabil Fekir brought the game level 13 minutes later.
In extra time, Ansu Fati scored a fine volley to give Barcelona the lead, but Loren Moron scored a backheel flick to bring Betis level.
Juanmi and William Carvalho were denied by Ter Stegen in the shootout, and Pedri scored the winning penalty kick.
Even before the shootout, when he played a crucial role, the goalkeeper made some excellent saves.
Ter Stegen went on to say, acknowledging that he was back to his best, “I would like to have less work in games.”
Since the introduction of the four-team format for the Spanish Super Cup in 2020, Barcelona has not won the competition.
Xavi and his team are desperate to win trophies after spending a lot of money this summer despite the club’s debts and finishing the previous season without a single trophy.
Although winning the Super Cup on its own won’t be enough, it would be Xavi’s first trophy since arriving in November 2021 and a step in the right direction.
We must now participate in it and win.”
Pedri had an early goal disallowed for offside, but Betis soon found their comfort zone, inspired by Fekir’s skill and Luiz Henrique’s dynamism. – Ter Stegen impresses
However, just before the break, Lewandowski, who was suspended and was not at his best in Sunday’s La Liga victory over Atletico Madrid, scored.
The Polish forward, who was fed by Ousmane Dembele, had his first attempt blocked, but he got the ball under control again and beat Claudio Bravo at the near post.
On a busy night for the German goalkeeper, Ter Stegen made saves from Rodri and Henrique, just like he had done the night before for his Madrid counterpart Thibaut Courtois.
After clever footwork from Henrique, Fekir eventually scored in the 77th minute, drilling past Ter Stegen to force extra time.
With a volley from the edge of the box three minutes into the additional period, Fati performed a feat of magic to restore Barcelona’s lead.
It didn’t last long, and despite Ronald Araujo’s close attention, Betis scored through Moron’s clever effort and backheeled past Ter Stegen.
Fati attempted to respond with his own backheel, but Bravo, a former Barcelona stopper, was quick to deny him.
Andres Guardado, a veteran Betis midfielder, was sent off late in extra time for two yellow cards, but Barcelona was unable to capitalize before penalties.
Ter Stegen saved Juanmi’s first two spot kicks for the Catalans, giving them the advantage.
Fati scored, Ter Stegen made another save to stop Carvalho, and Pedri converted the subsequent penalty kick to ensure Barcelona’s advancement.
Miranda, a defender who was playing in place of Alex Moreno, who recently signed for Aston Villa, said, “Betis fans should be proud of the team’s performance.”
“We are, as demonstrated by our fight. We still have a lot to learn, and I hope we can return to this location numerous times.