Federico Valverde finished off a stunning move in extra time to give Real Madrid a 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Barcelona in an exhilarating Spanish Super Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
Real advanced to Sunday’s final against the winners of Thursday’s clash between holders Athletic Bilbao and La Liga champions Atletico Madrid in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh.
Vinicius Jr opened the scoring for Real from a counter-attack early in the first half, but Luuk de Jong equalised shortly before half time following a mistake by Real defender Eder Militao.
Karim Benzema put Real back in front 25 minutes into the second half, striking home on the rebound from inside the area, but a header by substitute Ansu Fati, who was making his first appearance since November, took the game into extra time.
Real claimed the winner from another counter-attack, with Rodrygo firing a low cross to the edge of the area. Vinicius dummied to shoot, which eliminated the entire Barca defence and left Valverde all alone to tap the ball into an empty net.
"I think it was a match between two great teams," Real coach Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference.
"They controlled the possession but we conceded the first goal due to bad luck. There were no dominant or dominated [team]. We went back on purpose to look for the counter-attack. The three goals that we scored were spectacular."
Barcelona v Real Madrid ratings
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BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 7 Needed to be alert as Madrid started well and continued to threaten. Left exposed for the first. Excellent save from the outstanding Benzema on 72 minutes but couldn’t prevent the rebound. AP -
Dani Alves 7 Smart early stops against his compatriot Vinicius but yellow carded for stopping the rapid foe after 50 minutes. He took that one for the team. Did well for an hour before tiring. AFP -
Gerard Pique 7 Played his 42nd clasico at the back of a high line which was a risky back three, but a risk worth taking in an enthralling game that went to extra time. Barca twice came back against the La Liga leaders, but couldn’t a third time. Reuters -
Ronald Araujo 8 Felt his hamstring after trying to keep up with Vinicius and couldn’t keep up with the Brazilian when he put Madrid ahead after 26. Fast. Frustrated by Madrid, but Barca’s best defender as he closed down opponents and fared well in one on ones. AFP -
Jordi Alba 6 Smart cross to Fati for Barca’s equaliser. Found himself in a 3-2-3-2 formation in a fast paced and entertaining game for a side that is seeing its best players return. AFP -
Sergio Busquets 7 Dispossessed by Benzema which led to Madrid’s opener. Most of the play from a young side full of character went through him. Beautiful ball forward towards Fati on 89 as Barca pushed for a winner. Shot low after 100 minutes. He’s never scored in all those clasicos. Reuters -
Frenkie De Jong 6 Recovered to start the game and his side kept the ball well. AFP -
Gavi 6 Sent off for two yellows at the weekend, which cost his team. Still aggressive, but oh so gifted in a very open game where both sides attacked. AFP -
Ferran Torres 6 Barca debut for the new signing and his first match since October. Started on left of a front three. Yellow card. Did ok, didn’t look out of place after injury. Brought off at half time. AFP -
Ousmane Dembele 8 Barca’s best player in the first half. Promising early movement on the left and worked hard in coming back. Crossed for De Jong’s equaliser and almost had a breakthrough for a winner. Chance in extra time, too. AFP -
Luuk de Jong 7 Derided, but in form and fine in the air, winning two headers from crosses in the first half. Then equalised – though he knew little about it – after 43. Third goal in as many games. Reuters -
SUBS: Pedri 7 On at half time for F De Jong for only his fourth game of the season (he was near ever present last term) and first since September. Immediate reverse pass towards Dembele showed his vision. Then he struck a low shot wide of the post. He’s been missed. He’s also more muscular. AP -
Abde Ezzalzouli 5 On at half time for Torres. Covered well for Alves. Should have done better than to head wide three minutes into extra time. AFP -
Ansu Fati 8 On for Luuk de Jong after 63 and played as a false nine. Rose perfectly between Madrid’s central defenders to head in Barca’s second for his first goal of the season. Such a talent and still a teenager. AFP -
Memphis Depay 6 On for Gavi after 78. A brave substitution by Xavi who put more attackers in an already attacking line up. AFP -
Nico 6 On for Alves after 78 with instructions to attack. Couldn’t prevent Madrid recording a fifth successive win over their great rivals. Ferran Jutgla On for Abde after 109 minutes, the former Espanyol B and Barca B player came on as Xavi wanted to get back into the game. Went central up front. AP -
READ MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois 7 Couldn’t do much about the goals conceded but stood up well to Barcelona efforts from range. Quick to react to dangerous situations. AFP -
Ferland Mendy 8 Showed confidence on the left flank and wasn’t afraid to run at Dani Alves - and that was crucial in the second goal: The 26-year-old burst past his man and picked the right pass which eventually led to Benzema sending Real Madrid into the lead. Looked assured at the back. AFP -
Nacho 5 Nacho was too disorganised when defending crosses and had to do better commanding the backline as a more experienced star in the side. AFP -
Eder Militao 5 It’s not clear who Militao was marking for either of Barcelona’s equalisers. The centre-back looked lost for both goals, and while he was reliable defending 1v1, he looked troubled by balls into the box. AP -
Dani Carvajal 7 Strong in the tackle at right-back and gave an impressive account of himself with a difficult task against Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati. Barcelona’s tricky wingers tried to get past Carvajal, but they didn't find much success. AP -
Casemiro 7 Played a good part in the third goal and that capped off a solid performance from the Brazilian, who anchored the middle of the park well and was strong in the challenge. AP -
Toni Kroos 7 Quickly transitioned play to spread the ball to Real Madrid’s wingers and showed some neat patterns of play with first time passes to cut through the lines. AFP -
Luka Modric 7 Controlled the game from midfield and rarely put a pass wrong, working tirelessly to help his side out in defence. AP -
Vinicius Jr 8 The Brazilian’s pace and trickery caused problems for Barcelona all game, and that was no different with the opening goal as he timed his run to perfection and finished emphatically. AFP -
Karim Benzema 9 Good overall forward play and made no mistake with his calm finish that came moments after he had struck the post. Picked up an assist for Vinicius Jr’s opening goal. AFP -
Marco Asensio 6 A quieter display than usual from Asensio who did have some opportunities of promise but he never made the most of them. Eventually substituted in the 68th minute for Rodrygo. AFP -
SUBS: Rodrygo (Asensio, 68) 7 Showed excellent composure on the break, utilising his pace before picking out Valverde who finished to put Real Madrid into the lead for the third time. Looked certain to score in the final seconds but got the finish all wrong. AP -
Federico Valverde (Modric, 83) 8 Injected energy into the midfield and produced a cool finish to reinstate Real's lead. Reuters -
Lucas Vazquez (Carvajal 91) 7 On for Carvajal for extra time and defended well, not fooled by Ansu Fati who looked to dive in an attempt to win a penalty. AFP -
Eduardo Camavinga (Vinicius Jr 110) N/A Got the pass all wrong with the chance to seal the game in the 116th minute. AFP
Real beat Barca for the seventh time in eight Super Cup clashes but Barca coach Xavi thought his side deserved to win.
"We had it in our hands," he lamented. "We dominated Madrid for most of the game but we still lack experience, patience and effectiveness. We are close. We cornered Real. It is a pity."
Ancelotti praised his strikers Benzema and Vinicius, who between them have scored 29 Real Madrid's 45 goals in La Liga this season, but he is concerned about fatigue.
"It was a big physical effort," he said. "But we have held out well to the end. The fresh legs that came out from the bench did well. We are tired but happy."
Gerard Pique said Barcelona, who languish in sixth place in Spain 17 points behind leaders Real, are getting closer to being a team that can challenge for trophies again.
"I think playing like this we are going to start winning and start competing for lots of titles," Pique said.
