Barcelona 2-3 Real Madrid summary: score, goals and highlights, 2022 Spanish Super Cup
Real Madrid win thrilling Clásico to reach Super Cup final: headlines
- Valverde's extra-time winner sends Real Madrid into final
- Madrid to face Atlético or Athletic in Sunday's trophy decider
- Vinícius gave Real Madrid lead midway through first half
- Luuk de Jong levelled just before break with fortunate goal
- Benzema tapped Real Madrid back into lead after 71 minutes
- Fati forced extra time with 83rd minute header
- Valverde turned home Rodrygo's cross in first half of extra time
- Pedri and Ansu both impressed for Barça on return from injury
Peeep peeep peeep! Real Madrid are into the Spanish Super Cup final! What a thoroughly entertaining semi-final that was. Fantastic stuff.
When Vinícius Júnior gave Madrid the lead midway through the first half, Los Blancos looked much the better side and likely to go on and win convincingly.
However, Barça grew from that point on, and we were treated to a ding-dong Clásico as Madrid were twice pegged back, before Fede Valverde finally found the winner for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
For Madrid, who have now won their last five games against Barça, a final against Atlético Madrid or Athletic Club awaits on Sunday.
As for Barça, their bid to add a 14th Super Cup to their trophy cabinet is over, but Xavi's men have produced a very promising performance. "I'm proud of the lads," Gerard Piqué has just told Spanish television channel Movistar. "If we keep playing like that, we'll do well."
That'll be all from me. Thanks ever so much for joining!
Wow, what a minute we've just seen. At one end, Dembélé's right-wing cross is headed down at the back post to Ansu Fati, who winds up for an overhead kick from five yards out. If he can get a good connection, it's probably 3-3 - but he can't.
Real Madrid break, and with so many Barça players committed forward, Benzema has acres of space to play it across to Rodrygo, who's in on Ter Stegen. Will it be 4-2? No. Rodrygo's finish is awful.
Two minutes of time added on.
Jutglà tries to wriggle his way around Militao and into the Real Madrid box, but succeeds only in fouling the Brazilian. Free-kick to Real Madrid, who are within touching distance of the final.
Pedri tries to clip a ball over the top into Ansu's right-wing run towards the box, but overhits his pass and is already apologising to his team-mate as it flies out for a Real Madrid goal-kick.
Back come Barcelona, but when Real Madrid clear, Benzema is suddenly bursting over the halfway line and towards the Blaugrana penalty box. He feeds the ball left to Camavinga, who wafts a poor ball over to Rodrygo that fails to find the Brazilian at the back post, and the chance is lost.
Benzema's shoulder doesn't seem to be bothering him so much anymore.
That's a shame. From a free-kick on the halfway line, Kroos lifts the ball forward to Benzema, who has peeled off into space on the left wing. However, the Frenchman's first touch lets him down and it's out for a goal-kick.
Dembélé cuts the ball back to Ansu from the left-hand byline. Ansu tries to work his way further inside to shoot with his right, but is dispossessed by Vázquez. Barça want a penalty, but they're certainly not getting one.
Both teams make a change. For Real Madrid, Camavinga is on for Vinícius, who was struggling with cramp. For Barcelona, Ferran Jutglà replaces Abde, himself a substitute.
Close from Abde! Casemiro's clearance drops right at the feet of the substitute, who quickly shifts the ball right and lets fly with an angled drive towards Courtois' right-hand corner. His strike flashes just past the post.
Madrid work it to Casemiro, of all people, in shooting space on the right-hand side of the Barça box. He tries to chip Ter Stegen and doesn't manage it, or even come close to managing it.
Peeeep! Back underway.
Peep peep peep! Fifteen minutes between Real Madrid and the final.
Benzema is immediately getting some hasty medical attention for that shoulder. He has looked in some discomfort.
Rodrygo's neart backheel releases Benzema into space to run towards the Barça box, with Araujo backpedalling. Benzema possibly plays his pass towards Vinícius too early, though, and Araujo gets a foot to it. Barça clear.
Benzema is feeling his right shoulder after a collision with Rodrygo a couple of minutes ago.
One minute of time added at King Fahd International Stadium.
Right away, Barcelona almost equalise for a third time. You can't take your eyes of this. Nico thumps in a low drive from just outside the area that Courtois gets down well to parry. The loose ball falls right to Dembélé, but Courtois is up again quickly to block the Frenchman's his powerfully-hit shot.
They've been under the cosh since extra time started, but Real Madrid are back in front! It's an absolute smash-and-grab on the counter.
When Madrid finally win the ball back from another period of sustained Barça possession in Los Blancos' half, Casemiro bursts clear of a tackle and into the Blaugrana half. He lays it right to Rodygo, who plays the ball low across the Barça box, where Vinícius is running onto it.
However, he steps over the ball, and it's Valverde who fires into the corner at the back post!
Back come Barça. Real Madrid can't get out of their half. Pedri drifts forward before feeding it low into Ansu Fati just inside the box, but he can't bring it under his spell and Madrid clear. What a difference Pedri and Ansu make, though.
There's a good chance for Abde - but he heads off target! It's been all Barcelona ball since the restart, and when Dembélé looks up and crosses from the left, his inswinger flies right onto the head of the substitute, but he can't direct the ball goalwards.
Barça absolutely look the likelier winners right now.
Barcelona are immediately on the front foot. Dembélé takes on Rodrygo and Vázquez on the right, bursting between the pair and into the box, before tumbling to the turf in search of a penalty. He handles the ball as he falls to the floor, and that's what the referee penalises. Xavi doesn't agree with him, it's fair to say.
Peeeep! Extra time is underway.
Lucas Vázquez is on for Real Madrid at right-back, replacing Dani Carvajal.
Benzema's first Clásico goal+assist
Karim Benzema has scored and supplied an assist in a Clásico for the first time, and is the first Real Madrid player to do so since Sergio Ramos in 2009, Opta note.
Peeep peeep peeeep! Into extra time we go!
Two minutes of time added on.
Again Barça get Dembélé running in behind the Madrid backline and into the area, with a high ball lifted over the top. Dembélé's control lets him down, however, and he was offside, anyway.
Blimey, Real Madrid are really flirting with conceding a third here. Barça suddenly get Dembélé scampering into the Madrid box, but the Frenchman tries to lay it across the area for Fati, and can't get enough power on his pass. The Catalans want a penalty for a foul on Dembélé, but they don't get one.
Barcelona are level again! Ansu Fati on his return!
A Barça corner is taken short to Jordi Alba, who is given way, way too much time to control and deliver his cross. It's a fantastic ball from the left-back, whipped right onto Fati's head with plenty of power, and the teenager simply caresses it past Courtois and into the far corner!
A change in the Real Madrid midfield: Federico Valverde is on for Luka Modric, who departs to a rousing ovation.
Kroos whips a right-wing free-kick over to the back post, where Casemiro rises highest, but heads straight at Ter Stegen. Benzema is aggrieved with his team-mate; he feels he was in a better position to meet Kroos' cross.
At the other end, Ansu Fati slips Pedri in behind the Madrid defence, but the flag is up.
A double substitution for Barcelona. Depay and Nico are on for Alves and Gavi.
Barcelona are immediately in search of an equaliser. One corner becomes two, before Jordi Alba plays a low cross into the Real Madrid box that Nacho deals with.
A moment later, Rodrygo hoodwinks Piqué, lifting the ball over the centre-back's head and scampering away down the right wing, but Alba is quicker than the Brazilian, and chases back to clear the danger.
Casemiro is booked for tugging Gavi back.
A minute after coming so close to restoring Real Madrid's lead, Benzema does just that!
Mendy plays a left-wing ball into the box to his compatriot, who opens up his body and curls a shot towards Ter Stegen's far post. The Barça keeper saves, but Carvajal whips the ball back into the danger area, where Benzema prods in from six yards!
Madrid had been better in attack in the last 10 minutes or so, and they have their reward.
Benzema hits the post! With his first touch, Rodrygo slips a neat little ball into Benzema's run to the top of the Barça box. The Frenchman's initial control takes him a little wider than he might have liked, but he shows marvellously quick feet to work a yard of shooting space with his left - and fizzes an effort across Ter Stegen's goal and against the upright!
Real Madrid also make a change, replacing Asensio with Rodrygo Goes.
Ansu Fati is on for his first appearance since early November, Luuk de Jong making way. A very decent shift from the Dutchman, and a goal to show for said shift.
Madrid are just starting to show signs of coming back to life going forward. Asensio carries the ball for 20, 30, 40 yards, right the way to the edge of the Barcelona box, before having it nicked off his toes. The loose ball falls to Casemiro, who shoots first-time from 30 yards, but sees his effort blocked.
Asensio and Alba are both down and in pain after colliding in the midfield. Asensio appeared to accidentally tread on Alba's ankle as they challenged for the ball; not sure exactly how the Madrid player managed to get hurt, though.
Either way, they're both back up and look they'll be fine.
Ansu Fati is preparing to come on for Barcelona.
Casemiro almost manages to barrel his way into the Barça box, but with Vinícius waiting to his right the midfielder can't work it to his compatriot before being dispossessed.
Vinícius: as many goals this season as in first three at Real
Vinícius' first-half opener took the Brazilian to 15 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid this season. As Opta note, that's as many as the 21-year-old scored across his first three campaigns at the Bernabéu.
Dembélé shoots just wide! It's all Barcelona ball. Carvajal's headed clearance drops right onto the Frenchman's boot on the edge of the box, but his bouncing shot flashes a yard or so past Courtois' left-hand post.
Madrid have essentially done diddly-squat since scoring; either they get going again or that five-game winless run against Barça looks like coming to an end.
Dani Alves picks up the game's first yellow card, for a naughty challenge on Vinícius.
Christ. Madrid do know the second half has started, right? Dembélé scampers forward and pings a cross-cum-shot into the box that connects with Luuk de Jong's head, but flies over. De Jong was six yards out; had his header been on target, it was 2-1.
Yep, Pedri looks sharp. He lets the ball run across his body, in the process opening up a pocket of space in which to carry the ball forward and shoot. He sends his strike a yard or two wide of Courtois' right-hand post, though.
Pedri immediately shows what he can bring to the Barça team, setting up Dembélé with a neat reverse ball back from the byline. Standing just inside the Madrid box, the Frenchman is well placed to find the target - but he pumps it well over.
Peeep! We're back up and running.
Pedri and Abde on for Barça, no half-time changes for Real Madrid.
Pedri is on for Barcelona, with Frenkie de Jong making way. Xavi also throws Ez Abde on, in place of Ferran.
Pedri to come on for Barcelona
The teams are just starting coming out in Riyadh. Barcelona are preparing to bring on Pedri for his first appearance since September's 3-0 Champions League defeat to Benfica.
Jordi Alba and Dani Carvajal come together in a full-blooded tussle for the ball in Riyadh.
REUTERS/Albert Gea
Peeep peep peeep! That was an enjoyable first half. For half an hour or so, Real Madrid looked ready to rip Barcelona's defence to shreds at will, and absolutely merited their opener when Vinícius ran through and fired in past Ter Stegen.
However, Barça began to come to life in the final quarter of an hour before the break, and restored parity shortly before the break when Militao's clearance ricocheted off Luuk de Jong and in. Roll on the second half!
Barcelona certainly have their tails up now. Ferran lays it off for Luuk de Jong to cross from the right-hand byline, but his cross towards Dembélé is cut out. Barça on top in the closing moments of the half.
Luuk de Jong equalises for Barcelona! It's not a worldie.
Barça have shown greater attacking intent since going behind, and they're level just before the break. Dembélé is given too much time to measure a low cross towards the near post, and when Militao tries to clear, the Brazilian succeeds only in firing the ball off De Jong and into the Madrid net!
That's three goals in his last three Barça appearances for the Dutchman.
Asensio carries the ball forward towards the Barça box, before dropping a shoulder, drifting to the left and letting fly from 25 yards, but - via a deflection off Araujo - his shot sails right into Ter Stegen's arms.
At the other end, Barça work it to Dembélé just inside the Madrid box. He changes direction once, then again, before his shot is blocked by Nacho.
Dani Alves breaks Clásico record
Barcelona's Dani Alves has become the oldest player ever to appear in a Clásico, Spanish stats guru Mister Chip notes. Aged 38 and 251 days, he overtakes former team-mate José Manuel Pinto, who was 38 years and 159 days old.
Piqué lifts a pass to Ferran's run to the right-hand byline, but his attempted volley back to Luuk de Jong, who's waiting on the penalty spot, is cut out.
Dembélé cuts inside from the left and fires a couple of yards over Courtois' bar. Still, a bit more attacking purpose from Barcelona.
Again Luuk de Jong has an eminently presentable headed chance, but again Courtois saves. Alba curls a cross from the left over to the far post, but the Dutchman can't generate the power he needs and Courtois grabs hold without too much fuss.
There's a really good chance for Luuk de Jong to equalise! Barcelona have been thoroughly second best so far, but could so easily have been level there. Dembélé clips an excellent ball from the left right onto De Jong's head, but he nods it straight at Courtois.
And there it is! Vinícius gives Real Madrid the lead. It had been coming.
It's so easy for Madrid. Busquets loses it in the midfield, and Modric plays it to Benzema. He is quick to release Vinícius in behind the Barça defence with a precision ball along the deck, and the Brazilian powers into the box before lifting it high into the net past Ter Stegen. 1-0, and it's richly deserved.
Even stevens in Clásicos at neutral venues
Opta note that Real Madrid and Barcelona have met eight times previously in competitive games at a neutral venue - all in the Copa del Rey final. Four wins each so far.
Crikey. Every time Real Madrid break at pace, they sow utter panic in the Barcelona defence. Benzema offloads to Vinícius, who is suddenly thundering forward towards the box, with Barça's backline backpedalling furiously. Vinícius lays it right to Asensio, who takes a touch and strikes at goal - but sends it just past the corner of post and bar.
If Barça keep on letting Madrid's forwards put on the after-burners like that, they'll be picking it out of their net at some juncture in the not too distant future.
That's probably the best attacking moment for Barcelona so far, albeit it's fairly easily dealt with. Frenkie de Jong finds a pocket of space to scamper forward and slip Dembélé into space to cross from the left. He dinks it in gently towards Luuk de Jong's run to the penalty spot, but Nacho heads away.
Busquets looks up on the edge of the box before lifting a pass out wide to... absolutely no-one. Alves had checked his run forward just as Busquets looked down to play the pass.
Again Real Madrid look so dangerous when they run at Barcelona at pace. Modric releases Vinícius in behind Araujo in the right-hand channel, and he shows the Uruguayan a squeaky-clean pair of heels before firing low across goal towards Ter Stegen's far post. His strike is too close to the German and not powerful enough, however.
Luuk de Jong wants a penalty when his snapshot from the edge of the area rebounds off Militao, but it's a thoroughly spurious claim, let's be frank about it. Clearly bounces off the Brazilian's thighs.
Now Asensio curls over! All the attacking moments of real danger have been created by Real Madrid thus far. Vinícius touches the ball back to Asensio, who's arriving at pace some 25 yards from goal, but his whipped effort is always rising a yard or two over the crossbar.
Carvajal gets forward and clips a ball into the Barça box from the right wing, but it's fairly easily dealt with. At the other end, Dembélé tries to skip past the Real Madrid right-back and into crossing space, but succeeds only in giving away a goal-kick.
Real Madrid launch their first attack of note, Asensio carrying the ball over the halfway line before feeding it wide to the left to Benzema. The Frenchman cuts inside before directing a curling shot at Ter Stegen's far corner, an effort that's more than a little reminiscent of his goal against Spain in the Nations League final. His aim isn't quite as on point this time, though, and the ball flies a couple of yards off target.
Nacho is left in a heap on the turf after bouncing off Luuk de Jong's sturdy frame, but he looks like he'll be fine.
About 30,000 fans in King Fahd International Stadium, and they're making a decent amount of noise.
Peeeep! We're underway in Riyadh.
Barça still seeking first Super Cup win since revamp
Barcelona are the Spanish Super Cup's most successful team, with 13 trophy wins - but the Catalans are yet to lift the Super Cup since it became a four-team tournament in 2019/20. They came closest last year, losing to Athletic Club in the final.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, have 11 Super Cups to their name, a tally that includes victory in the first edition of the revamped tournament.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: the head-to-head form guide
Not only are Real Madrid 17 points ahead of Barcelona in the Spanish top flight, but the LaLiga leaders are on a run of four wins in a row - and five without defeat - against their arch rivals.
Madrid haven’t lost to Barcelona since they went down to a 1-0 LaLiga defeat to the Blaugrana in March 2019, in the dying days of Santiago Solari’s short reign as Bernabéu boss.
2021/22 Spanish Super Cup: Barcelona vs Real Madrid: times, TV and how to watch online
Should you be wondering how you can tune into tonight's Super Cup Clásico in Riyadh, you may wish to take a look at our guide on how and where to watch.
What the coaches said: Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid
On Barcelona's style of play under Xavi:
"I like that they have a clear idea about what kind of football they want to play. Their style is in line with the club's identity. They've been on a decent run recently. With his ideas, the team will improve".
Form book out of the window:
"In tomorrow's game we will be starting from zero. It will be an equally-fought game like it was at the Camp Nou before Xavi returned".
Carlo Ancelotti's pre-match press conference in full
(Photo: REUTERS/Albert Gea)
What the coaches said: Xavi Hernández, Barcelona
A potential "turning point":
“It is a good opportunity to see where the team is at. It's a very important test for us. It could be a turning point.”
What winning tonight's semi-final would mean to Barcelona:
"First, it gets you into the final, and then the confidence it gives to the project is tremendous. In two games you can win a title."
Read more about Xavi's pre-match comments
(Photo: REUTERS/Albert Gea)
Carvajal back for Real, Nacho in for Alaba
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti makes two changes to the side that walloped Valencia 4-1 at the weekend. Dani Carvajal is back from injury and starts at right-back in place of Lucas Vázquez, while there's an unexpected change at centre-back: David Alaba is a late pull-out with a muscle problem, and Nacho Fernández deputises for the Austrian.
(Photo: Diario AS/Pablo Garcia/RFEF)
Araujo and Frenkie return for Barcelona, Ferran makes debut
Barcelona boss Xavi Hernández makes three changes to the team that began the 1-1 weekend draw with Granada, bringing the fit-again Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong in for Eric García and Nico, and handing a debut to new signing Ferran Torres.
Torres replaces Ferran Jutglà in the line-up, and starts up front with Luuk de Jong, who had been expected to drop out of the XI. The Dutchman has been in decent scoring nick of late, though, netting in his last two appearances in LaLiga.
(REUTERS/Albert Gea)
Real Madrid team news
Starting line-up: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Asensio, Benzema, Vinícius
Barcelona team news
Starting line-up: Ter Stegen, Alves, Piqué, Araujo, Alba, F. De Jong, Busquets, Gavi, Ferran, L. De Jong, Dembélé
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: preamble
Hello! The first Clásico of the new calendar year is already upon us, as Barcelona and Real Madrid face off in the semi-finals of the 2021/22 Spanish Super Cup, in what is the arch rivals’ first ever competitive meeting outside of Spain.
Saudi Arabia is once more the stage for the Super Cup, a trophy which - whatever you think about the RFEF's decision to take its revamped tournament to the oil-rich, human rights-poor nation (I certainly know what I think) - has absolutely benefited from its expansion to a four-team format.
For the winners of tonight’s last-four clash in Riyadh, a place in Sunday’s final, against either Atlético Madrid or Super Cup holders Athletic Club, awaits.
Anyway, the teams are in, so let’s take a look at them.