Barcelona clinched a 2-0 victory against Osasuna on Thursday, courtesy of goals from Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal, propelling them to the final showdown against perennial rival Real Madrid.
The match took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the initial half remained scoreless as Barcelona encountered challenges in converting scoring opportunities. In the first 10 minutes, Ferran Torres attempted a long-range strike that narrowly missed the post, and shortly after, Lewandowski’s typically clinical shot was saved by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera.
🚨🇪🇸 Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna (Lamine Yamal)
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 11, 2024
Great work by João Félix. ⚡️pic.twitter.com/2mo1oyPQIv
Despite being the favored team, Barcelona faced determined opposition from Osasuna, the 2023 Copa del Rey runner-up. Jesús Areso and Ante Budimir had notable opportunities, with Areso’s shot from inside the box narrowly missing, and Budimir being denied by the advancing Iñaki Peña.
Barcelona maintained control of the game but struggled to convert their superior chances. Lewandowski, in particular, faced difficulties, missing a free header and having another attempt blocked inside the box. Both teams attempted audacious long-range free kicks, but the first half concluded without a breakthrough.
Nevertheless, Barcelona’s offensive prowess came alive in the second half, with Lewandowski breaking the deadlock in the 59th minute. Capitalizing on a through ball from İlkay Gündoğan, he slotted the ball past Herrera, giving Barcelona the lead. Osasuna’s attacking efforts diminished in the second half, posing little threat to Peña guarding the Barça net.
Barcelona experienced a positive turn with the return of midfielder Pedri from injury, as he entered the game just after the hour mark. However, the team faced a setback when winger Raphinha had to be substituted due to a leg issue.
The substitution saw sixteen-year-old prodigy Yamal taking the field, creating history as the youngest player ever to participate in the Super Cup, according to Barcelona.
In the closing moments of the game, the teenager secured the victory by receiving a pass from João Félix and successfully finishing inside the box, wrapping up the match in added time. Barcelona manager Xavi expressed contentment with the team’s solid performance, instilling morale and confidence for the upcoming final against Real Madrid. Xavi noted, “It was not a brilliant performance, just a good one.”
Barça is now set to confront its Clásico rival Real Madrid on Sunday, following Real’s thrilling 5-3 triumph over city rival Atlético Madrid in a semifinal that extended into extra time to determine the winner.
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