Barcelona secured a spot in the Supercopa de Espana final against Real Madrid with a less-than-convincing 2-0 victory over Osasuna in Saudi Arabia.
In a match far from being a classic, Xavi’s team struggled to seal the game despite dominating possession. Robert Lewandowski scored the crucial opening goal just before the hour mark, and Lamine Yamal sealed the victory at the end, providing Barcelona with their first two-goal margin of victory since September. However, it’s evident that Barcelona will need to raise their game significantly against Madrid if they hope to retain the trophy.
The semi-final lacked the goal-scoring spectacle of the Real Madrid versus Atletico Madrid clash on Wednesday night, with a slower and more uneventful pace. Although Barcelona made attempts during the first 45 minutes, nothing particularly outstanding materialized, and Osasuna, seeking their first-ever trophy in Saudi Arabia, appeared more likely to break the deadlock by halftime.
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The first clear chance of the match came in the 38th minute when good work down Osasuna’s right flank found Ante Budimir in the middle. His shot, cleverly or accidentally nutmegging Ronald Araujo, was swiftly blocked by Inaki Pena.
Aimar Oroz also tested Pena with a shot, but Barcelona gained a bit of momentum when Yamal replaced the injured Raphinha towards the end of the first half.
Barcelona struggled to find a cutting edge, but individual brilliance eventually emerged in the second half. Ilkay Gundogan provided a moment of quality, picking out Lewandowski’s well-timed run, and the Polish striker converted a low shot into the bottom corner.
Despite lacking real momentum, Barcelona was close to a second goal, with Jesus Areso doing just enough to prevent Lewandowski from connecting with Jules Kounde’s cutback.
Similar to the first half, the decisive second goal in the third minute of stoppage time stemmed from individual skill. Joao Felix showcased some fancy footwork, including a nutmeg, and set up Yamal for a composed finish into the far bottom corner.