Riyadh: Real Madrid hit Clasico’s fifth consecutive victory on Wednesday to advance to the Spanish Super Cup final but Barcelona’s young weapons showed why there was a club recovery trust has begun.
At the end of the pulsating contest in Saudi Arabia, Madrid threw 3-2 after extra time and will now face Atletico Madrid or Athletic Bilbao, who played on Thursday, in the final week.
As expected, Madrid won to make a clasico victory quintet in a row, the first time both sides have enjoyed such dominance since Barcelona Pep Guardiola won 5-0 at Camp Nou in 2010.
That Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema, Duo attacked Madrid, both Scoring another goal was not a surprise, also even that Ansu Fati was brilliant coming from the bench to return in his first appearance in two months.
The surprise was that a young Barcelona side, who sat 17 points behind Real Madrid in La Liga, encouraged Madrid along the road at Raja Fahd Stadium and for 10 minutes after the End of Fati’s equalizer seemed increasingly tend to reach the final.
Xavi Hernandez said this game would be a “test” for his team and while they lost the game, it would be hard not to conclude they passed.
In the end, Barcelona’s 11 including pedri, 19, ez Abde, 20, Fati, 19, Nico Gonzalez, 20, and Ronald Araujo, 22.
Gavi, 17, and Ferran Torres, 21, have gone.
Madrid’s own young gem, Vinicius, may prove to be the best, Brazil is almost unstoppable.
Luuk De Jong, Equatise for Barcelona and after Fati canceled the Benzema strike, it needed Fede Valverde to print the winner in extra time.
Barcelona can hardly be recognized from the start, driven by the return of several key players.
Fati, pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Araujo everything returned after injury.
Torres also made his debut, 15 days after completing his move from Manchester City.
He was tested negatively for Covid and finally registered by La Liga, Barca made space in their budget by extending Samuel Umtiti’s contract.
Real Madrid is a better side from the start, Slicker through midfield and more meaningful in the attack.
But when the goal came, through an error from Sergio Busquets, Veteran robbed the ball in the middle circle.
Benzema caught him a nap, accepted it back from Luka Modric and sent the ball to the Vinicius track.
With three perfect touches, he controlled, pushed from Ronald Araujo and lifted the ball to the net.
There is little to estimate the Barcelona equalizer, which arrives four minutes before half-time.
Dembele Ousmane Cross to the close post was filled with Eder Militao but his permission was a cannon from De Jong’s foot stretched out, the ball rebounded from the post.
Pedri and Abde came in part time and Barca accelerated his steps, pedri fired a width shortly after restarting.
Fati came to De Jong, the team suddenly looked more threatening.
But it’s the closest benzema, ted up by Vinicius.
He skilled at making enough space in the penalty area to break the left foot shot to the post.
Madrid increased again now and in the 72nd minute, they hit.
Ferland Mendey missed the flies off and cut back for Benzema, whose efforts were pushed away by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Dani Carvajal is there to move the ball back and temporarily segen again made a block, this time it fell to Benzema, which adjusts and finished.
With seven minutes left, Madrid approached but Fati intervened.
Memphis Devay plays a short angle and Jordi Alba crosses find space in the box, where Fati jumps, stretches and goes to the corner.
For the remaining minutes, Barcelona on it, Dembele Racing through and pedri was rejected by Nacho Fernandez.
They began to be better in extra time but may be excessive because suddenly Madrid opposed three.
Vinicius ran past the pull-back and Valverde Rodrygo, with Benzema and Casemiro next to him, rolled over.