Without the ailing David Alaba and with Real Madrid’s 100th Clasico victory over FC Barcelona, the first semifinal of the Spanish Supercup took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The favored league leaders beat their arch rivals 3-2 after extra time. Barca equalized twice in regular time. Real’s opponents in the final will be the winner of Thursday’s Atletico Madrid game against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Real took the lead after 25 minutes through Vinicius Junior (25th). But FC Barcelona, where new signing Ferran Torres was in the starting line-up after the corona infection, was able to equalize with a strange goal before the break. Alaba’s other central defender colleague Eder Militao shot at Luuk de Jong, from whom the ball first hit the inside post and then into the goal.
In the middle of the second half, Real seemed to be on the way to victory when striker Karim Benzema took the lead again with a kick in the 72nd minute, but Ansu Fati equalized with a header seven minutes before the end. In the extension, the decision was made in a pressure phase from Barcelona. Federico Valverde closed a counterattack to make it 3-2 for Real (98.).
Alaba missed his second Clasico at short notice due to muscular complaints, according to media reports. Yusuf Demir didn’t even take part in Barcelona’s trip to the desert, the 18-year-old Rapid loan was canceled by the professional team and should aim to return to Vienna.
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Post picture: Imago