Real Betis vs. Barcelona – Football Match Report – January 12, 2023

Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved Juanmi’s and William Carvalho’s poorly-struck spot kicks to present Barcelona a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Betis after the groups had completed degree at 2-2 following additional time of their Spanish Super Cup semifinal in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

Barca arrange a dream showpiece conflict on Sunday with Real Madrid, who beat Valencia in a shootout on Wednesday.

– Marsden: Ter Stegen the hero as Barca advance to Super Cup remaining
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)

The 30-yr-previous goalkeeper was Barcelona’s hero as he made a collection of excellent saves throughout a match earlier than blocking the efforts of Juanmi and Carvalho within the shootout.

“It was a beautiful match, one of those the fans show up to watch,” Ter Stegen mentioned after the match. “I’m very proud of myself. I think since last year I’ve been going through a great moment in my career and in my life.

“It was a really tough match primarily after the break as a result of they dominated possession and made it actually although for us. They had been superior within the midfield, had management of the match and we needed to combat actually onerous to advance.”

Barcelona began properly however as soon as Pedri’s twenty third minute objective was dominated out by the VAR for an offside within the construct-up, they began to lose floor to Betis.

After two excellent reflex saves by Ter Stegen blocked Luiz Henrique and Rodri’s bullet-like pictures, Ousmane Dembele burst ahead in a effective particular person effort earlier than he handed the ball to Robert Lewandowski, who beat goalkeeper Claudio Bravo from shut vary to attain the opener.

Betis got here again within the second half, urgent Barcelona up-entrance, and Nabil Fekir slotted in a low shot simply contained in the far put up within the 77th minute after being set-up by Luiz Henrique.

Lewandowski thought he had put Barca again in entrance with a strike three minutes later however VAR once more dominated-out the objective for an offside within the construct-up and the match went into additional time.

Ansu Fati put Barcelona again in entrance, ending off a surprising transfer from simply inside the world, however Betis fought again once more and equalised thanks to a different effective effort from Luiz Henrique, whose cross was brilliantly completed by substitute Loren Moron with a heel-kick from simply contained in the six-yard-field.

Barcelona didn’t put a foot fallacious within the shootout whereas Betis had been left ruing the penalty misses by Juanmi and Carvalho.