Barca beat Betis to set up Clasico Super Cup final

RIYADH: Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved twice from the spot to help Barcelona beat Real Betis 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw on Thursday, setting up a Clasico Spanish Super Cup final.

The Catalans will face their bitter rivals Real Madrid on Sunday after Carlo Ancelotti’s side beat Valencia on penalties on Wednesday.

Barcelona needed spot-kicks to see off Betis after an entertaining draw over 120 minutes at Riyadh’s King Fahd Stadium.

Robert Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead after 40 minutes but Betis playmaker Nabil Fekir levelled with 13 minutes remaining.

Ansu Fati smashed in a fine volley to put Barcelona ahead in extra-time but Loren Moron pulled Betis back level with a cunning backheel flick.

Ter Stegen denied Juanmi and William Carvalho in the shootout and Pedri converted the decisive spot-kick.

“(The final) will be a very nice game, everyone wants to see these type of games and we´ll be delighted to play it and win it,” Ter Stegen told Movistar.

The goalkeeper made some fine saves even before the shootout, where he was key.

“I would like to have less work in games,” Ter Stegen added, acknowledging that he was back to his best.

“For a year I´ve been at a very good level personally, physically, it’s the work too – every day I have a spectacular team that helps me improve and think about how to get better.”

Barcelona have not won the Spanish Super Cup since the change to a four-team format, with the first Saudi Arabia edition taking place in 2020.

After finishing last season without a single trophy and investing heavily in the summer despite the club’s debts, Xavi and his team are desperate for silverware.

Although winning the Super Cup will not be enough in itself, it would be a step in the right direction and Xavi’s first trophy since arriving in November 2021.

“Ter Stegen makes the difference for us, I am very happy with him,” Xavi told reporters. “He saved two penalties, and we´re in the final. Now we have to compete in it and win it.”

- Ter Stegen impresses -

Pedri had an early strike disallowed for offside but Betis soon found their comfort zone, inspired by the artistry of Fekir and dynamism of Luiz Henrique.

However, Lewandowski, who missed the win over Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday through suspension and was far from his best, broke the deadlock shortly before the break.

After being fed by Ousmane Dembele the Polish forward’s first effort was blocked but he brought the ball under control again and managed to beat Claudio Bravo at the near post.

Ter Stegen made saves from Rodri and Henrique on a busy night for the German goalkeeper – just as it had been for his Madrid counterpart Thibaut Courtois the night before.

Fekir eventually levelled in the 77th minute after clever footwork from Henrique, drilling past Ter Stegen to force extra-time.