Barcelona Beat Real Betis on Penalties, Set Up 'El Clasico' Super Cup Final Against Real Madrid

Post the match, the hero of the night, Ter Stegen, gave credit to the opposition for making them work hard for the win.

Barcelona's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen dives to save the ball during the penalties shootout during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final football match between Real Betis and FC Barcelona at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 12, 2023.

Source : AFP

Barcelona shot-stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved two penalties and Pedri found the back of the net in the deciding spot kick as Barca beat Real Betis 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Thursday (January 12). Their victory has set up a Spanish Super Cup final against arch-rivals Real Madrid this weekend in Saudi Arabia. It is pertinent to note that Madrid had defeated Valencia in the first semifinal a day before.

“Ter Stegen makes the difference,” Barcelona coach Xavi said after the match. 

“He makes the two saves and sends us to the final.”

The titular clash between the La Liga giants will be played at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh. While Barca scored on each of their four penalties in the shootout, Ter Stegen denied  Juanmi and Willian Carvalho a chance to keep Betis alive in the match, in the process helping the Blaugrana register a comprehensive victory.

Post the match, the hero of the night, Ter Stegen, however, gave credit to the opposition for making them work hard for the win.

“The match was super difficult, Betis made it tough for us,” Ter Stegen said. “In the end it’s about making it to finals, and we’ve made it. You also need some luck in the shootout, and this time it was on our side.”

Barcelona took the lead twice but Real Betis equalised each time

Before the match headed into the penalties, Barcelona had taken the lead twice but each time Betis found a way to equalise. It was Robert Lewandowski who opened the deadline and put Barca ahead in the 44th minute.  However, Nabil Fekir's 77th minute strike cancelled out Lewandowski's goal.

Young sensation Ansu Fati then once again gave the Catalan giants the lead with a goal in the 93rd minute but Lorenzo Jesus Moron Garcia scored in the 101st minute to draw level and force the match into a penalty shootout where eventually Barca prevailed.