Jan 15, 2023 at 9:54 PMUpdate: 5 minutes ago
FC Barcelona conquered the Spanish supercup for the fourteenth time in club history on Sunday. The team of coach Xavi was 3-1 too strong for Real Madrid in the final in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Gavi opened the score for Barcelona after more than half an hour. Robert Lewandowski doubled the lead just before half-time and Pedri made it 3-0 twenty minutes before the end. In injury time, Karim Benzema did something back on behalf of Real.
Frenkie de Jong had a basic place at Barcelona and was replaced four minutes before the end. Memphis Depay stayed on the bench with the Catalans.
The Spanish Super Cup is the first prize for Barcelona under Xavi, who succeeded the dismissed Ronald Koeman in November 2021. The previous prize dated from April 2021, when the Copa del Rey was won.
Barcelona last conquered the Spanish Super Cup in 2018 and is the record holder with fourteen final victories. Real Madrid won the award twelve times, including last year.
In Spain, the supercup has been between four teams since the 2019/2020 season. Every year the cup finalists and the numbers one and two from last season are present. In the semi-finals, Barcelona and Real won on penalties against Real Betis and Valencia respectively.
Gavi scored a goal and provided two assists. Photo: Getty Images
Gavi directly involved in all Barcelona goals
Barcelona were clearly the better team in the first half at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh. The predominance almost led to a goal for Xavi’s team in the thirteenth minute, when a long shot by Lewandowski hit the post through the hands of Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Before the break, Real got no further than a Benzema header that went over. On the other hand, Gavi did find the goal in the 33rd minute. After poor defending by Real, the ball came via Lewandowski to the eighteen-year-old top talent, who passed Courtois with a shot in the far corner.
Just before the break, Lewandowski made it 2-0 and Gavi also had a share in that. After a pass from De Jong near the center line, Gavi passed the ball, after which the Polish striker simply rounded off.
Little changed in the game image in the second half. Courtois prevented the 3-0 shortly after the break with a save on a bet by Ousmane Dembélé, but was passed in the 69th minute. Pedri tapped in on a pass from Gavi.
In the remainder of the game, only Real created danger. Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen saved on goal attempts by Rodrygo and Benzema, but still had to take a hit from Benzema in stoppage time.
Image: Reuters
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