2024-01-11 21:26:00
Minimal service or almost for Barça but it was enough. The Barcelona side dominated Osasuna on Thursday in the second semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia (2-0). Long borrowed from a lackluster team, Robert Lewandowski still ended up finding the fault (59th). Lamine Yamal doubled the lead in added time when the Pamplonais had to give in (90th + 3). The Blaugrana will face their rivals Real Madrid in the final on Sunday.
The Saudi public will be entitled to their Clasico. Barça will have to raise their level because they did not convince against the 12th in Liga. With an expected starting eleven, the Barcelonans quickly got their foot on the ball and looked to attack. From a corner, Andreas Christensen warmed the gloves of opposing goalkeeper Sergio Herrera (6th) then Ferran Torres placed his axial shot from 20 meters just wide of the target (8th).
A weak Barça
If Lewandowski’s shot was also deflected past the Pamplona goalkeeper (13th), the Catalans fell back into their recurring faults with a cruel lack of inspiration and collective creativity. Well organized and biting at the back with a reinforced defense, the Osasuna players resisted before playing the shots to the fullest. Their center forward Ante Budimir played nicely with Ronald Araujo by knocking him down from a small bridge but came up against Inaki Pena (40th). José Arnaiz then forced the last defense of the Blaugrana to deflect his powerful free kick (43rd).
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Shortly before the break, Yamal had to replace Raphinha, who suffered a muscle injury (42nd). The 16-year-old winger and Jules Koundé were active on the right but the Catalans were harmless on the left and too neutral in midfield with Sergi Roberto, Frenkie De Jong and Ilkay Gündogan. The German still had a flash of genius to throw Lewandowski perfectly at the entrance to the zone of truth. The Pole, who has not lost all his scoring talent, opened the scoring by closing his right foot (1-0, 59th). He has 11 goals with Barça this season.
The Blaugrana continue without seducing
Immediately, Joao Felix and Pedri came into play. The Portuguese and the man who was returning from injury quickly brought the technical touch and liveliness that Xavi’s men were so lacking. Joao Felix also called on Herrera (68th) but Barça did not really push to make the break. Narrowly beaten in the league by the Catalans (1-2), the Osasuna players were able to maintain hope and Budimir gave work to Pena (78th).
Jagoba Arrasate’s players, however, lacked offensive power in the final minutes to shake the Blaugrana. They took advantage of the space to strike on the counter with Joao Felix who served Baldé perfectly for a goal which put an end to all the suspense (2-0, 90th + 3). Master of the ball and dominant, Barça logically wins. Without seducing, he has a fourth victory in a row after those against modest opponents in La Liga and the Copa del Rey. Faced with Real Madrid, spectacular winner of Atlético on Wednesday, the holder of the trophy will face much tougher opposition.
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