Xtra Time Web Desk : The Spanish Super Cup 2021-22 Semi Final was indeed a see saw affair as Real Madrid clashed against Barcelona in Riyadh to set up a high scoring match. The ‘El Clasico’ saw a total of 5 goals as the Los Blancos ended up triumphant by a 3-2 margin at extra time on Thursday.
The high voltage match from the start itself was an end to end affair as both the teams looked to play attacking football. While Xavi’s men tried to play the game with a more possession based approach, Ancelotti’s boys were more focused on playing a counter attacking style of football.
The first goal came on the 25 minute mark from the feet of Vinicius Junior as he put Real Madrid into the ascendency with a superb finish. Their lead however stayed for just over 15 minutes as Barca’s tall Dutch striker Luuk de Jong scored on the 41st minute to put his team back on level terms. The first half ended at the scoreline being 1-1.
The second half too saw some exciting football played by both the teams up until Los Blancos’ star striker Karim Benzema scored a goal in the 72nd minute to put his team 2-1 up in the match. The second Madrid strike however broke Barcelona’s shackles as they came all guns blazing at their rivals after putting on some attacking substitutions to the field in the likes of Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay and Ez Abde. And the changes worked for Xavi as Ansu Fati scored a beautiful goal on the 83 minute mark, courtesy of a brilliant header from a pin point Jordi Alba cross to put Barca back on 2-2.
Barcelona after their second strike had some decent chances to seal the match towards the end of the regulation time’s play but were not successful in taking them, courtesy of some brilliant defending from Real Madrid and missed opportunities from the Barca forwards. Thus the game on regulation time ended at 2-2 before Federico Valverde scored the decisive strike at extra time (98′) to seal a thrilling 3-2 win for the Los Blancos’.
The El Clasico win puts Carlo Ancelotti’s men all the way through to the final of the Spanish Super Cup.