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The Super Cup winners reached the semi-finals of the cup after defeating the league’s most admired team. Real’s fun, celebrated and victorious career ended nine games later at a stadium they haven’t won in 32 years, the Camp Nou. Victory was deemed impossible by San Sebastián due to the field factor and being outnumbered for more than half a game after Brais Méndez was kicked out. Silva and Merino were also absent, in any case he only signed the capitulation at the last minute after an excellent practice against a contradictory version of Barça.
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Ter Stegen, Ronald Araújo, Alex Balde (Raphinha, min. 77), A. Christensen (Marcos Alonso, min. 91), Koundé, Busquets, Pedri (Kessié Franck, min. 77), Frenkie De Jong, Lewandowski, Gavi and Ousmane Dembele (Ansu Fati, min. 84)
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Remiro, Diego Rico (Aihen Muñoz, min. 45), Le Normand, Elustondo, Zubeldia, Brais, Martín Zubimendi, Pablo Marín (Jon Ander Olasagasti, min. 77), Take Kubo (Robert Navarro, min. 77), Sörloth ( Carlos Fernández, min. 87) and Oyarzabal (Barrenetxea, min. 45)
Gates 1-0 min 51: Ousmane Dembele.
referee Jesus Gil Manzano
Yellow cards Busquets (min. 55), Pedri (min. 58) and Martín Zubimendi (min. 66)
Brai’s red cards (min. 40)
The Catalans lined up with their best line-up, including Ter Stegen, a fact that attests to the seriousness with which the appeal was accepted and also guarantees Real’s integrity. Barça culminated yesterday with a phenomenal goal from Dembélé, the game’s best stretch, and then handed himself over to ter Stegen to save the 1-0. The goalkeeper took away two shots from Robert Navarro, made possible by a mistake by the same goalkeeper, and in the last game from Olasagasti.
Barça pressed from the start, very stretched out from a row of three in the middle, strong under pressure and lively in preparation, more protagonist than Real. The Blue and Whites only overtook the Catalans when the ball was in Ter Stegen’s penalty area. The goalkeeper’s right foot then gave way in search of Dembélé. The ball bounced over the pressure lines and the Catalans often reached the end position or the corner flag when the defense arranged by Imanol mediated. The San Sebastián people couldn’t get the leather and the coach didn’t stop correcting Rico, overwhelmed by the off-balance Dembélé.
Deep and fast Barca football needed just one shot and therefore one goal to complete a good line-up at the cold Camp Nou, very atmospheric and on the other hand less crowded than in the league. La Real needed half an hour to leave his field well oriented after a good defensive drill that left Remiro practically unheard of. San Sebastian’s presentation shot hit the bar after a superb maneuver by Pablo Marín allowed Take Kubo’s deduction. The game was valuable due to player interest and lively play between the two teams which led to Gil Manzano’s continued intervention.
The referee did more than admonish the offenders until, after consulting the VAR, he sent off Brais Méndez for a tackle on Busquets’ ankle. The referee, whistled for firing Lewandowski at El Sadar, changed the yellow card to a red and Real were left with 10 and without one of their fittest footballers, crucially in a machine room where they already had Merino and Silva were missing. The group turned back towards Imanol’s frame. However, the Catalans lacked the patience and finesse to dodge the crowds in front of Remiro.
Reached the break 0-0 and made the game 10v11, Imanol switched to left full-back, Rico passed Aihen and set Barrenetxea to Oyarzabal. The game strained his legs and lungs and the international striker is still unfit after suffering a ligament injury at Zubieta. Dembélé didn’t care about Rico or Aihen and he unlocked Real’s goal with a valuable play due to the speed and power of his shot after a good pass from Koundé. The French winger grabbed the back of his marker and flexed the surprised Remiro’s left arm.
In favor of the score, Barcelona ignored the game and the ball and began to concede fouls that were repeated in losses and vulnerable on their pitch, permeable to a Take Kubo attack from the left that left Sorloth in goalmouth. The striker, who already has 12 goals, missed an empty goal, defeating Ter Stegen. The move alarmed the Catalans, who returned to attack and, due to their superior numbers, subdued the decimated Real. There was even a shot from Gavis Latte to finally see a double chance for Real with Robert Navarro and Olasagasti, now without Dembélé on the field, replaced and applauded as a figure of the game from the Camp Nou.
Victory went to Barcelona, the credit for a deserving, competitive and decimated Real in a good cup game.
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