Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona
For the final of a trophy named Super Copa, there really needed to be at least one of the two Spanish giants involved to live up to its billing.
So when both Real Madrid and Barcelona qualified, the occasion truly was super in more than just name.
The second El Clasico of the season – Real Madrid showed why they are champions with a 3-1 home success in the first in October – both teams needed penalty shoot-outs to reach the final in Riyadh.
Real beat Valencia following a 1-1 draw in which Karim Benzema’s penalty put the European and La Liga champions ahead before Samuel Lino levelled just after half-time.
Madrid won the shootout 4-3, scoring all their kicks, while Eray Comert missed his and Thibaut Courtois saved Jose Gaya’s effort.
Meanwhile, there were more dramatic Spanish Super Cup highlights in the second semi-final as Barca faced Real Betis, who secured their place in the tournament as defending Spanish Cup holders.
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski drew first blood in the 40th minute at the King Fahd Stadium only for French midfielder Nabil Fekir to level the scores 13 minutes from time.
The teams could not be separated after extra-time where talented youngster Ansu Fati reclaimed the Catalans’ lead before Betis fought back once more, this time through Loren Moron.
It was hard-fought victory secured by Barcelona when they prevailed 4-2 in the penalty shootout that followed.
Now for the showpiece and the first Spanish silverware of 2022/23 up for grabs.
Highlights of the game
I was surprised to see the SBOTOP Super Copa betting odds made Barcelona favourites for this.
Perhaps it was because Real’s quintet of Eder Militao, Lucas Vazquez, Eduardo Camavinga, David Alaba and Aurelien Tchouameni were all nursing knocks – although two made the starting XI.
Full backs Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy returned to boost Carlo Ancelotti’s rearguard with classy veteran Luka Modric coming into midfield.
Barcelona, who have not lost this season when Lewandowski has scored, made three changes of their own, including a double change at full back, with Alejandro Balde and Andreas Christensen starting as French international Jules Kounde moved across to right back.
For Xavi Hernandez, this was an opportunity to win a first trophy in the managerial hotseat, and his team didn’t disappoint on a night Real failed to reach the levels we have become so used to.
Ronald Araujo had already gone close and Courtois push a Lewandowski effort onto the woodwork inside the opening quarter of an hour before 18 year-old midfielder Gavi notched his first Clasico goal, capitalising on a quick passing move after Real lost possession.
A minute before the break, he was involved again, squaring to Lewandowski for number two.
But for Courtois, who denied Ousmane Dembele with his feet, the contest would have been over before it was midway through the second half.
That was when lackadaisical Real lost possession once more and Gavi set up his fellow young compatriot Pedri to make it three.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen kept out a long-range shot from the man whose goal won last season’s Champions League Final, Vinicius Jr, and with the last kick of the game, Benzema slammed home a loose ball as a consolation.
Yet by then, Barcelona had something to smile about after a miserable 18 months during which their arch-rivals have soared.
Why was this the Clasico in the desert? Why was this tournament again being held in Saudi Arabia?
Well, if you are wondering it’s because a sponsorship deal between the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Royal Spanish Football Federation was sealed, handing the country the rights to host the ‘domestic’ cup tournament for the coming years.
That agreement was made in 2021 and the deal, reportedly worth $120 million, takes us through until 2029.
The venue though will not matter one jot to Barcelona.
After 18 months in the doldrums and financial embarrassment, they have something tangible to cling onto once again.
Key statistics
Gavi is the youngest player in Supercopa history to score in the final and the youngest player to score in an El Clasico match (18 years, 163 days) since Fati in October 2020 (17 years, 359 days).
This was Sergio Busquets’ 45th appearance in an El Clasico fixture, competitions, equalling Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos as the players with the most appearances in these matches.
What’s next?
Both sides stay with cup action this week.
In the Copa del Rey on Thursday night, Real face a tough test against a Villarreal side who have just defeated them in La Liga. That is followed by a league match next weekend against Athletic Bilbao.
Barca, meanwhile, have what appears a more straightforward seven days ahead.
In the Copa del Rey, they travel to minnows AD Ceuta – who ply their trade in the third tier of Spanish football – also on Thursday (January 19) before hosting Getafe in the league next Sunday.
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