In a thrilling semifinal match against Athletic Club, Barcelona secures its place in the Spanish Super Cup finals. A long pass from Raphinha leads to a chance for Athletic to score, but a timely intervention from goalkeeper Simon denies them. Subscribers of Sportstar can catch the highlights of the intense match at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
Barcelona Triumphs in Dramatic Spanish Super Cup Semifinal
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Barcelona has advanced to the finals of the Spanish Super Cup after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Athletic Club in the semifinals.
Action-Packed Semifinal
The match kicked off with a flurry of chances for both teams. Athletic Club was the first to threaten, with Inaki Williams putting pressure on Barcelona's defense. However, Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was equal to the task, making a brilliant save from Williams' shot.
Barcelona took the lead in the 20th minute when Sergio Busquets played a delightful through ball to Ousmane Dembele, who calmly finished past goalkeeper Unai Simon. Athletic Club responded quickly, with Oihan Sancet equalizing just five minutes later.
The second half was just as intense, with both teams trading blows. Gavi restored Barcelona's lead in the 75th minute, only for Athletic Club to level again through Yeray Alvarez in the 84th minute.
With the match seemingly heading for extra time, Barcelona struck again in the 93rd minute. Robert Lewandowski's shot from outside the box deflected off an Athletic Club defender and looped over Simon to secure the victory.
Top 5 FAQs
1. When is the Spanish Super Cup final?
The Spanish Super Cup final will be played on January 15, 2023.
2. Who will Barcelona face in the final?
Barcelona will face Real Madrid in the final.
3. What is the history of the Spanish Super Cup?
The Spanish Super Cup is a two-legged match played between the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey. The first edition was played in 1982.
4. Has Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup before?
Yes, Barcelona has won the Spanish Super Cup 14 times, the most of any team.
5. Who is the all-time leading scorer in the Spanish Super Cup?
Lionel Messi is the all-time leading scorer in the Spanish Super Cup, with 14 goals.
In a spectacular upset, 47-year-old jockey Neil Callan guided 66-1 long shot No Half Measures to victory in the prestigious July Cup. The surprise win came as a shock to many, as racing powerhouses Godolphin and Coolmore are typically the ones to dominate such prestigious events. Callan, who had been struggling with a string of unsuccessful rides, was in disbelief as he crossed the finish line with No Half Measures, making for a truly remarkable and unexpected story in the world of horse racing.
During India's second innings at Lord's, opener Shubman Gill lost his temper and shouted a profanity-laced remark at England's Zak Crawley, which was caught on the stump microphone. This came after Crawley repeatedly held up play and frustrated the Indian fielders. Tensions escalated when Jasprit Bumrah's aggressive bouncer hit Crawley, leading to a heated exchange of words and mocking gestures from both teams. The day ended with England finishing at 2/0, while India equalized their first innings score of 387.
On the third day of the Lord's test match between India and England, tensions rose as Tim Southee criticized Shubman Gill for his behavior towards England opener Zak Crawley. Gill had been seen mouthing expletives towards Crawley, and India's team showed sarcasm when Crawley called for physio treatment. Southee later defended his statement, claiming that the series has been played in good spirits so far. India's captain, KL Rahul, also weighed in on the matter, stating that the exchange was just a part of the game and that India's intensity not solely dependent on it.
After setting a massive 608-run target, Team India turned to their bowlers to deliver a much-needed win. Wet conditions on the final day delayed play, but when England resumed at 72 for 3, it was a matter of time before India claimed the four remaining wickets. Akash Deep and Washington Sundar were the stars, taking crucial wickets of key players to give India a strong chance of levelling the series. Ravindra Jadeja's quick over also allowed for one more over before lunch, which proved to be the decisive moment when Sundar dismissed a stunned Ben Stokes to break a crucial partnership.
India and England were evenly matched on Day 3 of the 3rd Test at Lord's, with both teams being bowled out for the same score of 387 in their respective first innings. KL Rahul was the top performer for India, scoring a century, while Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja made valuable contributions with fifties. England's comeback man Jofra Archer dismissed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal quickly, but Karun Nair and captain Shubman Gill were unable to get a big score. Team India's fielding was strong, with Joe Root taking his 211th catch, but some heated moments between Gill and Crawley kept the audience on edge. Jasprit Bumrah's five-wicket haul was the highlight of Day 2, but England managed to level the score and will have the chance to take the lead in the remaining two innings.
The third Test match between England and India was left in a tense situation as both teams fought to gain an advantage on the third day. A late flurry of wickets from England towards the end of India's first innings saw the visitors finish with a score of 387, leveling it with England. However, controversy arose when England's Zak Crawley engaged in time-wasting tactics during the final overs, leading to a heated exchange between him and India captain Shubman Gill on the stump mic. As the match hangs in the balance, tensions between the teams are expected to continue on the final day.
In a dominant and record-breaking performance, Iga Swiatek of Poland has become the first ever Polish player to win a singles title at Wimbledon. In a 57-minute final match, the 24-year-old eighth seed defeated American Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0, making her the first player to win a Wimbledon final without dropping a single game in over a century. This marks Swiatek's sixth Grand Slam title and a perfect record of 6 out of 6 wins in Grand Slam finals. With this victory, she also becomes the quickest player since Serena Williams in 2004 to reach 100 wins at the majors.
The Aussies are on a roll as they gear up to face West Indies in the third and final match of the Test series. Having already won the first two matches, they are determined to maintain their dominance in the pink ball Test. With Pat Cummins winning the toss and choosing to bat first, both teams have announced their Playing XIs. Australia's star players Steve Smith and Cameron Green are in form, as they take on West Indies' Justin Greaves and Jomel Warrican. It's an intense battle as Australia reaches 100 runs.
As the third Test match between India and England at Lord’s continues, the Dukes ball controversy takes center stage once again on Day 3. Indian coach Ravi Shastri expresses frustration with the umpires for taking a long time to change the ball, and questions why balls that fail the gauge test are even in the box in the first place. This comes after both teams have complained about the ball not swinging as expected in the previous tests, and India faces some challenges with the replacement ball.
Emotions ran high at Lord's as England's Zak Crawley and India captain Shubman Gill exchanged heated words during the final over of the third day in the ongoing Test series. The confrontation adds another layer of intensity to an already tightly contested match, with England holding a narrow lead of two runs at stumps. Former England cricketer Marcus Trescothick praised Gill's batting performance while Taylor expressed satisfaction after a third successive win over Serrano. England's players remain confident and ready for their upcoming match against Wales.