RIYAD.- To the beat of goals Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamalhe Barcelona defeated 2-0 on Thursday Osasuna and assured a reissue of the final of the Super Cup against him real Madrid in Saudi Arabia.
Lewandowski and Yamal scored in the second half for the Catalan club, which won the title last year to win its first title under the coach Xavi Hernandez and without Lionel Messi.
The blaugranas advanced to Sunday’s duel without a showy game and with a certain amount of suffering.
Madrid qualified after beating its neighbor 5-3 on Wednesday Atlético de Madrid.
“We played a serious game. The first half was not so good, but the second was better,” commented the Barça midfielder. Frenkie de Jong. “A final with Madrid is very nice.”
He Barcelona was classified to this Super Cup after becoming champion of the Spanish league last season. Osasuna competed after reaching the final of the Copa del Rey from the previous campaign, when they lost to Madrid.
In last year’s final, Barça beat Madrid 3-1 and another consecration would come in handy amidst the questions over a succession of weak matches. The team of Xavi Hernandez is seven points behind Madrid and Gironaco-leaders of the League at the midpoint of the course.
Barcelona progresses:
“We have to improve, we are improving”said de Jong. “It is a fairly new team, with many changes and you always need time to get used to your teammates. Also many injuries and we are in this process.”
The Blaugranas dominated at the beginning, but clear scoring opportunities were scarce for both teams in the first half. Barça maintained the initiative after the break and opened the scoring in the 59th minute with a low shot from Lewandowski after the pass from Ilkay Gundogan. Yamal sealed the victory with a shot inside the area in stoppage time after a good gallop by João Félix.
FOUNTAIN: AP
