Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved twice from the spot to assist Barcelona beat Actual Betis 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw on Thursday, organising a Clasico Spanish Tremendous Cup closing.
The Catalans will face their bitter rivals Actual Madrid on Sunday after Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect beat Valencia on penalties on Wednesday.
Barcelona wanted spot-kicks to see off Betis after an entertaining draw over 120 minutes at Riyadh’s King Fahd Stadium.
Robert Lewandowski put Barcelona forward after 40 minutes however Betis playmaker Nabil Fekir levelled with 13 minutes remaining.
Ansu Fati smashed in a fantastic volley to place Barcelona forward in extra-time however Loren Moron pulled Betis again stage with a crafty backheel flick.
Ter Stegen denied Juanmi and William Carvalho within the shootout and Pedri transformed the decisive spot-kick.
“(The ultimate) will probably be a really good sport, everybody needs to see these kind of video games and we’ll be delighted to play it and win it,” Ter Stegen informed Movistar.
The goalkeeper made some fantastic saves even earlier than the shootout, the place he was key.
“I want to have much less work in video games,” Ter Stegen added, acknowledging that he was again to his greatest.
“For a yr I have been at an excellent stage personally, bodily, it is the work too — every single day I’ve a spectacular workforce that helps me enhance and take into consideration tips on how to get higher.”
Barcelona haven’t received the Spanish Tremendous Cup because the change to a four-team format, with the primary Saudi Arabia version happening in 2020.
After ending final season and not using a single trophy and investing closely in the summertime regardless of the membership’s money owed, Xavi and his workforce are determined for silverware.
Though successful the Tremendous Cup is not going to be sufficient in itself, it will be a step in the proper course and Xavi’s first trophy since arriving in November 2021.
“Ter Stegen makes the distinction for us, I’m very pleased with him,” Xavi informed reporters.
“He saved two penalties, and we’re within the closing. Now we have now to compete in it and win it.”
Ter Stegen impresses
Pedri had an early strike disallowed for offside however Betis quickly discovered their consolation zone, impressed by the artistry of Fekir and dynamism of Luiz Henrique.
Nevertheless, Lewandowski, who missed the win over Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday by way of suspension and was removed from his greatest, broke the impasse shortly earlier than the break.
After being fed by Ousmane Dembele the Polish ahead’s first effort was blocked however he introduced the ball below management once more and managed to beat Claudio Bravo on the close to publish.
Ter Stegen made saves from Rodri and Henrique on a busy evening for the German goalkeeper — simply because it had been for his Madrid counterpart Thibaut Courtois the evening earlier than.
Fekir ultimately levelled within the 77th minute after intelligent footwork from Henrique, drilling previous Ter Stegen to drive extra-time.
Three minutes into the extra interval, Fati produced a bit of magic to place Barcelona again in entrance with a volley from the sting of the field.
It did not final lengthy, with Betis putting by way of Moron’s intelligent effort, backheeled previous Ter Stegen regardless of shut consideration from Ronald Araujo.
Fati tried to answer with a backheel of his personal however former Barcelona stopper Bravo was alert to disclaim him.
Veteran Betis midfielder Andres Guardardo was despatched off late in extra-time for 2 yellow playing cards, however Barcelona didn’t have lengthy sufficient to capitalise earlier than penalties.
Either side transformed their first two spot-kicks however Ter Stegen denied Juanmi handy the Catalans the benefit.
Fati scored and Ter Stegen produced one other save to foil Carvalho, with Pedri changing the following spot-kick to seal Barcelona’s progress.
“Betis followers must be pleased with the workforce’s efficiency,” stated defender Miranda, enjoying within the stead of Alex Moreno, who signed for Aston Villa this week.
“We’re, with the combat that we confirmed. We’ve got rather a lot to be taught and I hope we could be right here once more many extra instances.”