Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona score: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen's shootout heroics send Barca to Supercup final - CBSSports.com
Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona score: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen's shootout heroics send Barca to Supercup final
Marc-Andre ter Stegen was Barcelona's hero as he saved two penalties in a shootout to take them past Real Sociedad and into the last of the Spanish Super Cup.
In an evenly fought suitable half it was Barcelona who made the most of the chance that came their way, Frenkie De Jong superbly arriving backwards to flick Antoine Griezmann's header beyond Alex Remiro.
Though it certainly shouldn't take away from what was an apt performance by the Dutchman, De Jong would ultimately have a sizeable hand in Real Sociedad sketching level as a cross from the left flank hit his trailing hand. Mikel Oyarzabal made no incorrect from the spot, bringing the game into a area of parity it would remain in pending the shootout though the introduction of Adnan Januzaj transported life to the closing minutes of the contest.
Twice it appeared the weak Manchester United prospect might win the tie for La Real, suitable when he forced an excellent one-handed stop from Ter Stegen and then when his 119th small free-kick hammered back off the crossbar.
In a remarkably low quality shootout De Jong, Griezmann and Willian Jose all missed the targeted but Ter Stegen made two superb saves from penalty specialists Jon Bautista and Oyarzabal to procure a 3-2 win for Barcelona in the shootout and passage to the last, where they will play the winner of Thursday's match between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
De Jong and Pedri take on Messi burden
Naturally Barcelona missed Lionel Messi just as any team would miss the most player of his generation, particularly when his replacement Martin Braithwaite is not even the most Danish striker of his generation (Nicklas Bendtner is only three ages older). To be fair to Braithwaite he expressed good movement to dart to the principal post and meet a cross from the gleaming wing, flashing a header just wide.
In Messi's dearth what Barcelona needed was some semblance of the link play that he provides between midfield and attack. Again there are no players who do what the Argentine does but if you were picking a player who noteworthy theoretically be able to replicate some of the most player on the planet's role, Griezmann noteworthy be that man. But for too much of the suitable half he was too distant from the portion, leaving the burden on youngsters Pedri and De Jong
There were the slightest of flashes, occasions where Griezmann flexed his creative muscles and he over up with an assist for De Jong although the contaminated asked a great deal of the Dutch midfielder, but in truth it was the midfielders who rose to the occasion. Pedri in certain seemed to relish the burden to get Barcelona ticking. At times he looked determined to draw pressure his way just so he could beat it and get his team-mates attacking a disorganized defense.
De Jong, since, looks an altogether more dynamic player than the one who shone at Ajax as a deeper creator. Here he was driving beyond Brathwaite in exceptional weak, particularly in the 52nd minute when he expressed a smart turn of pace to control into the box. It took a suitable recovery tackle from Andoini Gorosabel to deny him a penalty. Indeed, so good was the recovery that he actually created to earn La Real a free-kick. It was a rare occasion where the team in blue and white got the better of De Jong.
Oyarzabal's penalty hot traipse iced
Inevitably there are few better opportunities to secure than from a penalty for reasons that obviously do not need explaining. But, at some stage even the best are said to miss. Not Oyarzabal, who extended his hot traipse to 17 from 17 as he sent Ter Stegen the contaminated way with an impudence that seems to be tempting fate in contradiction of one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
And yet why shouldn't Oyarzabal Come his spot kicks with a bit of swagger? Not only does he have the track Describe to match it but throughout this semifinal it was Definite that he was in the zone. A 50 yard power early in the first half set Alexander Isak up for a fine chance that took good goalkeeping from Ter Stegen to deny him. The young Swedish striker was relishing the opportunities gave for him by Oyarzabal and it took one of some excellent interventions from Ronald Araujo to deny him just beforehand the half hour.
Isak was not alone as Oyarzabal laid on an early chance for Portu whilst creating a shot from himself. Just as Barcelona had required key players to step up in Messi's lack so was there greater pressure on La Real's forwards to fend for themselves. The captain on the night stepped up in Good fashion.
Strictly speaking the 23-year-old's hot Move remains intact - efforts in shootouts do not Describe towards statistics - but it was as clear an indication of Ter Stegen's excellence both tonight and over recent seasons that the German managed to deny this penalty taker par excellence. Oyarzabal's penalty was not as good as his Trouble in normal time but it still took every inch of the German's giant frame to deny him, an Trouble that seemed to spook Willian Jose, who went too far wide with his spot kick and hit the post.
Notable performances
Ronald Araujo: For just a few million bucks Barcelona look to have found a very solid center back in the 21-year-old Uruguayan, who excelled in the additional half when he dropped in behind to snuff out the Trouble on more than one occasion. RATING: 8
Nacho Monreal: He turns 35 next month and it is nearly two ages since he was moved on by an Arsenal hierarchy that Idea his legs were about to go. There are few more effective ways to Hate them wrong than holding Ousmane Dembele at bay into Amazing time and leading his team in tackles with five when 110 minutes. RATING: 8
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