In a tightly contested Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Barcelona emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Osasuna, thanks to second-half goals from Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal. The result sets the stage for a highly anticipated showdown with Real Madrid in the final, a rematch of last year’s clash that ended in a 3-1 triumph for Barcelona.
The encounter unfolded as a dreary affair in the first half, with Barcelona dominating possession but struggling to break down Osasuna’s defense. Despite a lack of ideas and minimal threats posed to their opponents, the Catalan side managed to find their rhythm in the second half.
It wasn’t until the 59th minute that the deadlock was broken when Ilkay Gundogan delivered a precise through-ball to Lewandowski, who clinically scored from close range. Osasuna players, however, vehemently protested, claiming that Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen had fouled Jose Arnaiz in the build-up to the goal. A VAR check ultimately confirmed the legitimacy of the goal, leaving Osasuna frustrated.
Osasuna manager Jagoba Arrasate expressed his displeasure, stating, “We felt we were wronged because the refereeing criteria were very different during the whole match. The foul was clear.”
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez acknowledged the controversy but remained diplomatic, saying, “Watching live, it looked like a foul, to be honest, but the replay shows that there was nothing. Sometimes the referee works to our advantage, sometimes he works against us. However, I don’t think he was decisive in today’s outcome.”
Following Lewandowski’s breakthrough, Xavi introduced Joao Felix from the bench, injecting much-needed energy into Barcelona’s attack. The Portuguese forward forced Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera into making crucial saves, keeping the opposition in the game.
It was Joao Felix who created the decisive counter-attack, providing the assist to Lamine Yamal, who slotted the ball low into the net, sealing Barcelona’s 2-0 victory and setting up a tantalizing El Clasico final against Real Madrid.
“You don’t play finals, you win them. We want to compete against an opponent who I saw very well in the other semi-final,” Xavi remarked. “However, there are no favorites; it’s an El Clasico. Hopefully, the final will go our way like last year. We are the reigning champions, and at least we will enjoy it.”
