Barcelona faced Osasuna in the Spanish Supercopa semifinals, hoping to secure a spot in the final against their arch-rivals, Real Madrid. The match got off to an underwhelming start, with Barcelona dominating possession but failing to produce any substantial attacking threat. Despite a few half-chances from Robert Lewandowski, Osasuna’s goalkeeper Sergio Herrera stood strong, denying any potential goals. The first half ended in disappointment as both teams struggled to break the deadlock.
It wasn’t until the 59th minute that Barcelona finally came to life. Ilkay Gündogan delivered a precise through-ball to Lewandowski, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net from close-range. However, controversy surrounded the goal as Osasuna players argued that there was a foul by Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen on Jose Arnaiz before the counter-attack. Despite their protests, a VAR check upheld the goal, leading to frustration from Osasuna’s manager Jagoba Arrasate. On the other hand, Barcelona’s manager, Xavi Hernandez, acknowledged the controversial nature of the goal but downplayed its impact on the final outcome.
Following Lewandowski’s goal, Xavi made a crucial substitution, bringing João Félix off the bench. The Portuguese forward injected much-needed energy and creativity into Barcelona’s attack. Félix forced Herrera into making some excellent saves, keeping Osasuna in the game. However, Barcelona’s persistence paid off as Félix orchestrated a rapid counter-attack, providing the assist for Lamine Yamal, who confidently struck the ball low into the net, securing the victory for Barcelona.
Anticipating El Clasico
With the win against Osasuna, Barcelona solidified their place in the final and set up an exciting El Clasico showdown against Real Madrid. Xavi expressed his eagerness to compete against a formidable opponent, praising Real Madrid’s performance in their thrilling 5-3 victory over Atletico Madrid in the previous derby. Xavi acknowledged that there are no clear favorites in an El Clasico match, emphasizing the importance of his team’s performance in securing another Supercopa title.
While Barcelona’s performance in the first half was lacklustre, they managed to turn things around in the second half with Lewandowski’s goal and Félix’s impactful presence. The controversy surrounding the goal added an extra layer of intensity to the match, but ultimately, Barcelona deserved their victory. As they prepare to face their eternal rivals in the final, both teams will be eager to claim the Supercopa trophy.
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