Barcelona - Osasuna summary: score, goals & highlights | Spanish Super Cup semi-final
Barcelona - Osasuna: as it happened
Full-time thoughts:
Two moments of class sealed the game for Barcelona against a resilient but ultimately limited Osasuna side.
Goals from Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal were enough to get past their opponents and set up a Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid.
The first half was a tight affair, with Barcelona dominating the possession without creating copious amounts of danger for Osasuna, who held them off well. The best chance may have fallen to Budimir, who smashed his close-range effort into Iñaki Peña.
The second half was a different story: the Catalans came out with their serious faces on, and immediately looked like their half-time oranges (and a potential telling-off from Xavi) had had the desired effect.
Their goal came from a nice strike from Lewandowski on the edge of the box and from then on, the pressure lifted.
Osasuna threatened periodically but never caused Barça to sweat profusely, and João Félix's skill late on gave Lamine Yamal a perfect chance to seal the deal, which he did not miss.
The win sets Barcelona up for a tantalising Clásico Super Cup final on Sunday 14 January.
That's all, folks!
Let's leave it there.
Thanks for following the action and make sure to tune in on Sunday for the final!
Joe
Xavi post-game:
It was tough for us today, they're great in defence, it's hard to find space. We knew this. I want to congratulate Osasuna, they did well.
Pedri cleared things up for us when he came on, Lamine Yamal did well as well.
João was good, as was Pedri and Lamine, that's what the changes are for.
We are happy, there are things to improve but we're in another final.
It looked like a foul for me by Christensen [before the first goal], but I saw the replay and there's nothing there. I'd have blown it on first viewing, but not on the replay.
Finals aren't there to be played, they're there to be won. There's no favourite, it's 50/50, it's a Clásico and we're the reigning champions.
Raphinha has a problem in his hamstring.
Gündogan gets a Sofascore shout out
The German was a solid player in the Barcelona midfield, and kept things ticking over. Like Frenkie, he upped his game after the break and turned Barcelona's threat levels up a number of gears.
De Jong takes home the MVP award
For me, he had a quiet first half, and on balance, I might have given it to Catena in the Osasuna back line, who was superb all game.
However, De Jong's turnaround for the second half was what gave Barcelona the edge of their opponents, so it's a fair decision in the end.
Real Madrid start the preparations for Sunday...
With a cheeky photo of their win earlier in the season!
FULL-TIME!
Barcelona get past Osasuna and will play Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final!
Corner to Osasuna after nice work from Mojica down the left.
Osasuna are throwing every player forward...
It's stunning from João Félix, who slides the ball past two players on the wing before cutting inside and playing across the box to Lamine Yamal.
The winger taps the ball onto his left foot and slides a shot into the far corner of the goal.
We've got a Clásico final! (If Osasuna don't pull of an incredible comeback).
Koundé smashes over from distance and De Jong is absolutely fuming with the defender for losing possession.
Iñaki Peña takes his sweet time with a goal kick, as one does in added time.
4 added minutes.
BIG CHANCE FOR OSASUNA
Raúl García smashes a volley just over the bar!!!
Gündogan gets out his knitting needle and tries to thread an incredibly tight pass through a gap in Osasuna's defence towards Lewandowski... Herrera comes out well to collect.
Osasuna win a corner as Budimir's header is deflected away...
Barcelona clear easily as it fails to beat the first man.
Rubén García & Kike Barja ON
Moi Gómez & Juan Cruz OFF
Catena, who has been excellent, clears a dangerous cross from the right as Barcelona push again for goal number 2.
Osasuna manager Jagoba Arrasate is booked for saying naughty words to the assistant referee.
We're into the final 10 minutes...
Budimir and Raúl do excellently well on the edge of the Barcelona box as Xavi's side begin to loosen their grip on the game...
The ball eventually runs out for a goal kick but Osasuna arrived easily into the danger zone.
Mojica ON
Peña OFF
SAVE FROM IÑAKI PEÑA
Budimir skips inside the box from the right, going all the way towards the penalty spot before smashing a powerful drive into the palms of the Barça stopper.
A weak shot from Gündogan is easily stopped by Herrera.
Before that, Lewandowski saw his effort from close range blocked away after good work down he wing from Koundé.
Pedri is accidentally caught on the back of the leg by Moncayola as he turns back to goal.
Xavi, why did you put him on the pitch?
Budimir wins a corner for Osasuna - this time on the left - as Barcelona throw desperate legs at the ball as it bounces inside their box.
Raúl García wins a corner for his side after his cross from the right is blocked. Osasuna attacked out of nowhere and caught their opponents off-guard.
Juan Cruz does superbly well against Lamine Yamal on the left wing, tackling the player before playing calmly out from the back.
A couple of long balls forward give Osasuna's Budimir something to chase but Barcelona's defenders cover the spaces well and the immediate danger is easily averted.
Raúl & Moncayola ON
Arnáiz & Muñoz OFF
SAVE FROM HERRERA
João Félix receives from De Jong on the left. He squirms past the defender and curls a far-post effort towards goal that's well saved.
Gündogan's tackle stops Peña's tentative attack down the left. Right now, Osasuna can't get going.
Barcelona are holding onto the ball as Osasuna wait for the moment to jump and attack, although it seems the team in white have realised there is no longer a burning urgency to attack at all costs.
Side note...
It's interesting to see Pedri on the pitch, especially given the club's constant messages that they were, under no circumstances, going to rush the player back...
In other news, there's a wave going around the stadium - add it to the list of reasons not to hold these games in Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona pin Osasuna right back into their own box as they look for the second...
We're back underway.
Pedri & João Félix ON
Sergi Roberto & Ferran OFF
Osasuna are claiming there was a foul in the build-up, but Lewandowski takes the ball from Gündogan on the edge of the box, skips past one challenge and stabs a low shot past Herrera to put Xavi's side ahead!
Arnáiz gets in behind the Barça back line, but messes up the chance horrendously. He wastes too much time as he squares up to Araujo before eventually taking one touch too many and losing possession.
Frenkie De Jong is seeing a lot more of the ball in this half... and Barcelona are growing around him.
Arnáiz is booked for pulling back Ferran as the winger raced down the right wing. An easy booking.
Ferran goes for goal from distance and his shot is blocked by Catena before flying out for a corner.
Areso's control on the right isn't tight and Balde wins the back the ball; it was a promising move from Los Rojillos, who had Barcelona running back to goal.
Barcelona win a free-kick on the right after a foul from Peña...
It's swung in and cleared. The second cross is played to the back post where Araujo heads over.
Barcelona have settled into their passing game - and they look a lot sharper. There have already* been more switches of play in the first 2 minutes of this half than there were in the previous 45.
*probably
João Félix is warming up...
Budimir hesitates to shoot with his right as the ball lands with him inside the box. He squares towards Arnáiz, but the Croatian national team player was offside and the play is called back.
Osasuna get the ball rolling!
No changes for either side.
Here come the players!
Various substitutes have been warming up during the break, so let's see if we get any changes.
MisterChip giving us hope for goals...
In the entire history of the Spanish Super Cup, there have only been three games that have finished 0-0.
Half-time thoughts:
It's as you might have expected at half-time, with the Catalan side dominating the ball (75% possession), with the majority of their passes coming in front of Osasuna's tortoise shell formation, with their Roman shields pointing in all directions as they scuttle left and right, blocking any in-roads to goal.
The chances Barcelona have had have come from set pieces or mistakes from Osasuna, who have defended well.
Arrasate's team have had their fair share of chances, too, with the best one coming from Budimir, who took advantage of a Christensen slip, only to see his low effort fly into the chest of Iñaki Peña from close range.
Half-time!
No goals so far!
Lamine Yamal tries to take on Moi Gómez and the winger wins a corner after a strong, direct run at goal.
2 added minutes.
BIG CHANCE FOR BARCELONA
Lamine Yamal slides a delicious diagonal pass through the Osasuna defence that finds Lewandowski, but his shot is blocked.
We're into the final minute of the half.
It's been a good period of pressure for Osasuna, who have found some confidence to go forward in the final few minutes of the half.
Rubén Peña sends a wonderful cross in from the left that Budimir can't get to... Osasuna are on top as things stand.
Lamine Yamal ON
Raphinha OFF
Raphinha is down and it looks like his night is over.
Osasuna push and Arnáiz sees his shot blocked by Araujo on the edge of the box!
Muñoz goes in late on Balde and gets a booking.
HUGE CHANCE FOR OSASUNA
Areso gets down the right and plays to Budimir, who skips past Araujo and slides a shot towards goal that Iñaki Peña saves low down!
Xavi is still waving wildly on the sideline in an attempt to get his team to stretch and create gaps in Osasuna's back five. So far, not much has worked...
It seems Balde is OK to carry on; Font, who had been warming up, has been told to sit back down.
A quick VAR check tells the referee that there's no need to check the decision.
...the ball is then swung in and cleared by Arrasate's side...
Raphinha and Gündogan are over the ball, around 35 yards out.
Catena is booked for a foul on Raphinha as the winger breaks away.
It's not a red as Moi Gómez is behind him as the last man, thankfully for the defender.
CHANCE FOR BARCELONA
Lewandowski misses a huge chance!
A Barça corner is swung in and thestrikerconnectsawkwardly, despite being all alone in the box. The ball bounces agonisingly wide. A massive opportunity missed.
Oooo, gasps as Christensen slips and lets Budimir in behind. L
uckily for the blaugrana, his touch isn't perfect and Ronald Araújo races over to cover for the Danish centre-back, who can only watch on in both horror and relief.
Frustration is growing from the crowd as Sergi Roberto scuffs a shot from inside the box that rolls well wide of the post. This game, if Barça are to win it, requires patience: Osasuna are no pushovers.
A potentially dangerous moment for Barcelona in Osasuna's box ends as Lewandowski lifts an arm into Moi Gómez's face.
Balde isn't comfortable on the left side - he looks to be in pain.
For now, he's carrying on.
Despite the possession, Barcelona aren't finding as much space in behind Osasuna and ahead of their defensive line as they'd like. The switches of play have been slow and Arrasate's side, for the most part, have been comfortable.
Raphinha is penalised for a foul on Iker Muñoz in the middle of the pitch. Safe to say he can't believe the decision, which for him was a fair 50/50.
CHANCE FOR BARCELONA
Gündogan surprises with a long-range effort from a free-kick that tries - and fails - to catch Herrera out in the Osasuna goal.
The blaugrana do well to play out from the back, despite Osasuna's high press. The team in red are holding their shape for now, but the Catalans look threatening...
Barcelona's passing has moved up around 15 yards and they're starting to find spaces inside Osasuna's block instead of in front of it.
Sergio Herrera's long ball over the top finds Rubén Peña perfectly, but his touch isn't clean and it allows Koundé to recover.
SAVE FROM HERRERA!
Catena loses the ball to Sergi Roberto, who drives forward in a 3v2 against Osasuna's scrambling defenders. He plays left towards Lewandowski, but his shot is poor and straight at Herrera.
Budimir gets in behind Koundé and drives a low cross towards Arnáiz, but Frenkie De Jong, who has struggled to get into the game so far, clears.
Ten minutes in and, despite Barcelona's possession, chances have come and gone for both sides.
CHANCE FOR OSASUNA
Wow, the game has exploded! Areso finds space on the edge of the box and smacks a shot towards Iñaki Peña that Kounde blocks and sends wide!
CHANCE FOR BARCELONA
Ferran fires wide after a couple of poor, poor clearances from Herrera.
The Barça winger picks the ball up from distance and goes for goal, dragging his effort just wide.
CHANCE FOR OSASUNA
Arnaiz races past Araujo and plays a cross towards Budimir but Koundé manages to clear! The first scare for Barcelona.
Christensen hits the ball as it drops and the rebound finds Lewandowski, who is offside.
Corner to Barcelona as Raphinha beats Rubén Peña after a delightful ball is played over the top. The former Leeds winger gets behind the defender and sends in a low cross that's blocked out by Juan Cruz.
Xavi is shouting wildly for his centre-backs to split further, spreading Osasuna's tight block out. At the moment, it's all Barcelona with the ball as their opponents hold the fort.
A long ball finds Ferran down Barça's right and Catena slips, taking the former Valencia player with him. No foul given, throw-in to Arrasate's side.
As you might expect, Barcelona are holding the ball around halfway as Osasuna shuffle their red and blue block from left to right, closing out the gaps.
So, it's a back 5 from Osasuna, with Peña as a wing-back and Juan Cruz tucked inside with David García and Catena.
And we're off!
Barça get us underway in Riyadh.
Handshakes over, it's time for kick-off!
A quick photo for the press and we're ready to go!
The players are in the tunnel!
Finally. That must mean the fireworks are nearly over.
But first, the light show!
If you like flashing lights and no football, then this is the moment for you...
Xavi pre-game:
Osasuna is a difficult opponent with a great coach. They can actively press: in the centre and on the flanks. This always causes us difficulties. We won the Spanish league match in Pamplona fairly, but it was difficult.
We are considered favourites for the semi-finals, but Osasuna dominate in many aspects of the game, and it will be difficult for us. We are not the favourites of the tournament, because there is still Real Madrid.
Fifteen minutes to go!
The two teams have finished their warmups ahead of kick-off and are making their way to the dressing rooms for the final team talks!
A reminder of the starting XIs:
FC BARCELONA:
GK: Iñaki Peña
DEF: Kounde - Araujo - Christensen - Balde
MID: Sergi Roberto - Gündogan - De Jong
ATT: Raphinha - Lewandowski - Ferran
OSASUNA:
GK: S. Herrera
DEF: Areso - David García - Catena - Juan Cruz - Peña
MID: Moi - Muñoz - Aimar - Arnaiz
ATT: Budimir
Osasuna's recent results:
Osasuna’s recent results are much more stable, with 3 wins, a draw and a loss in their last five games.
They have beatenCastellón in the Copa del Rey, as well as getting past Almería and Rayo Vallecano, but losing to Mallorca and drawing to Cádiz.
Pretty much what you’d expect from a team in 12th.
Castellón 0-1 Osasuna - WIN
Osasuna 1-0 Almería - WIN
Mallorca 3-2 Osasuna - LOSS
Osasuna 1-0 Rayo - WIN
Cádiz 1-1 Osasuna - DRAW
Barcelona's recent results:
Looking at Barcelona’s recent results, it quickly becomes quite the list to dig your teeth into.
Their last win was a 2-3 win against third tier side Barbastro in the Copa del Rey, which Xavi said afterwards gave him “good feelings” (if I say what I really think, dear reader, we’ll miss the game); they squeezed past Las Palmas 1-2 away from home with a last-minute penalty decision that was controversial to say the least; they lost to Club América in Mexico’s Liga MX in a money spinning game that failed to bring in the fans; a Sergi Roberto double was needed to beat bottom-of-the-league-and-looking-to-break-the-all-time-lowest-points-record Almería; and they drew 1-1 against a spirited Valencia five games ago.
Barbastro 2-3 Barcelona - WIN
Las Palmas 1-2 Barcelona - WIN
Barcelona 2-3 Club América - LOSS
Barcelona 3-2 Almería - WIN
Valencia 1-1 Barcelona - DRAW
The Saudi sound system is in full flow...
Someone's just put Now That's What I Call Music 91 into the CD player: we've had a bit of Soulja Boy, Sean Kingston and Jason Derulo. It's, well, nostalgic, if not a bit strange.
Jagoba Arrasate pre-game:
We know what Barcelona will try to do. They have a set style of play where they try to dominate the game and press us, and we have to fight that. We must be quick when we press and tie up on the back, especially when making them run.
We will lose if we only play defence or hope for extra time or penalties. We have to be fearless and have our attack ready. As I said, the game plan can be one or another, but we must be clinical if we want to win.
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You may have seen - or heard - that Toni Kroos was heavily booed during Real Madrid's game yesterday, with every touch the German had sparking a storm of noise from all four sides of the crowd.
The reason, after a little chin scratching, soo became apparent: Kroos criticised the European players that moved to Saudi Arabia over the summer.
Now, the story doesn't end there, as Barcelona president Joan Laporta has also criticised the various players making the move to the Middle East, saying to CNN that “no sporting reasons” for a player to play in the Saudi Pro League (SPL).
Let's see if he receives the same reception as the Madrid midfielder.
Xavi to Spanish TV:
We will be protagonists but they’ll press us. They defend well and play good, direct football.
We want to play well, have the ball, be calm and enjoy enjoy ourselves.
The results will come with the improvement of our play, we want to dominate and win.
Yesterday was a good game, a good semi-final, with two good teams.
I want an Osasuna that come at us, let’s see what Jagoba Arrasate has prepared, he’s a great coach.
We start with Ferran, but all players have to be prepared.
ANDER GILLENEA / AFP
The last time they played...
The last time Osasuna faced Barcelonawas back in September, when we were enjoying the new season with the autumn sunsets and a stark disregard for the league table.
The game, held at El Sadar, finished 1-2 to the blaugranaand was settled with a late Lewandowski penalty.
Osasuna performed admirably in that game and showed everyone watching why they made it to the Copa del Rey final last season: Chimy Ávila’s strike drew things level in the second half after a Jules Koundé header before the break, but Catena’s foul on the Pole in the dying moments gave Barcelona the chance to take home three points.
VAR is to be used differently during the Super Cup...
Medina Cantalejo explains how VAR audio will be heard in Spanish Super Cup, but let's hope we don't hear anything from them and that we all have a nice, quiet game - right?
Arrasate's XI announced:
It's a strong XI from Jagoba Arrasate, who goes with Sergio Herrera in goal, of course. Ahead of him, it's a guessing game, with Juan Cruz and Rubén Peña both theoretically playing on the left.
If I had to guess I'd put Juan Cruz in a three withPeña ahead as wing-back.
Areso, David García, Catena are certainly in the back line.
Moi, Muñoz and Aimar make up the midfield with Budimir slightly ahead of Jose Arnaiz up top.
No João for Barça...
The Portuguese forward has been relegated to the bench by manager Xavi in what has probably been the toughest week at the club for the ex-Atlético player.
Reports have swirled like black clouds above Montjuïc that the player's attitude is questionable, as is his relationship with his Barça teammates. Some media outlets have even go so far as to say that Barcelona want him out of the club.
Barca XI revealed:
IñakiPeña starts behind a defence of Kounde, Araujo, Christensen and Balde.
Roberto, Gündogan and DeJong make up the midfield; Raphinha, Lewandowski and Ferran are in attack.
Barça to play in white
The blaugrana - which means 'blue and claret' in Catalan - are set to play in their white strip for tonight's game against Osasuna.
The team that played in white last night ended up winning, so maybe that'll give them some luck on the pitch!
For the first time in 44 years, the club released a white kit, saying that it "is part of the Club’s “Here to lead the way” campaign. Its innovative design pays homage to Barça’s history and to a shirt worn by Johan Cruyff, the forefather of FC Barcelona’s style of play." Can't argue with that.
Fancy watching the game on your TV or streaming device?
Well, if you're in the US, then you're in luck. Here's all the television and streaming information you need if you want to watch Barça take on Osasuna.
That was a quick journey...
The Osasuna squad have arrived at the home of Al-Nassr in what must be the quickest hotel-stadium journey in the country!
Alex Caparros / Getty Images
Who's the referee?
Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz is the señor referee for the game today.
The Galician official has been a referee since 2021 and has plenty of experience in Spain’s top division.
He has refereed both Barcelona and Osasuna before, and, shockingly, has given cards to both of them - so there’s your controversy.
Osasuna are on their way!
The team from Navarra are already on their way to the stadium ahead of kick-off.
Why is the Spanish Super Cup being played in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, in a fantastically predictable move by the RFEF, they Spanish Super Cup was ‘reinvented’ and sold to Saudi Arabia.
The tournament, which used to be a two-legged curtain-raiser for the season, was stuck in a washing machine and came out as a final four tournament, with the top 2 in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey finalists all competing for the trophy.
It sounds incredibly unnecessary, and I’d argue that you’re right, but it is certainly true that the competition has benefitted from the change in style. Now, about the Saudi Arabia part…
The stadium is ready!
The venue for tonight's game - the 25,000 seater Al-Awaal park - was opened in 2015 and is the home of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr.
Team news: Osasuna
Unai García is back in the Osasuna squad after missing the last game against Castellón while Chimy Ávila, the team’s talisman forward, misses out with an injury.
Pablo Valencia, a youth team goalkeeper, has also made Jagoba Arrasate’s squad.
Team news: Barcelona
Xavi still has a number of injury issues to deal with, mainly in the backline.
Number one goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is still out as he recovers from a back injury.
Ahead of him, all of MarcosAlonso, ÍñigoMartínez and JoãoCanceloareunavailable, although the latter two have travelled with the squad despite their injuries.
Pedri is also on the sidelines (and with the squad in Saudi Arabia) with a muscle issue, and is not expected to play a role in the Super Cup.
We're up an running!
Hello again and welcome to the ASUSAlivecoverage of the second semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup.
If yesterday’s action is anything to go by, today should be a whopper of a game: we’ve got Barcelona taking on Osasuna for a place in Sunday’s final!
It’s Joe here today to take you through the action as it unfolds. The game should begin in around 90 minutes.