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.
Chelsea claimed a victory against Tottenham in the highly anticipated London Derby at Stamford Bridge. In a thrilling match, Chelsea secured the win with goals from Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic, while Tottenham's Son Heung-min scored the only goal for his team. Mail Sport reporters Oliver Holt, Kieran Gill, and Luke Power provide live updates and analysis from the ground.
The Red Devils were on a winning streak under manager Ruben Amorim before their clash against Nottingham Forest. However, it was defender Diogo Dalot's display that stole the headlines as he played as an inverted full-back. United fans on social media were enraged by his defending, leading to his substitution in the second half. This sparked discussion among fans, comparing his performance to that of other iconic United players.
Dimitar Berbatov, a former Manchester United player, has offered his support to Liverpool's new signing Florian Wirtz. Despite his early struggles, the £116m German has been praised by Berbatov and is predicted to become a successful player at Anfield. Berbatov also hopes that Wirtz will have a good support system around him and that his coach will recognize his talent.
After a topsy-turvy League Cup clash with Wolves, Chelsea are reportedly considering Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola, as a potential successor to current boss Enzo Maresca. The Blues' inconsistencies this season have raised questions about Maresca's methods and with tension reportedly building behind the scenes, a managerial change could be on the horizon. The Spaniard, who has done a commendable job at Bournemouth, is said to be at the top of Chelsea's shortlist should they part ways with Maresca.
The San Antonio Spurs made a statement on Thursday night, defeating the Miami Heat for their fifth win in a row. This marked the first time in franchise history that the Spurs have started a season with a perfect 5-0 record. Led again by Victor Wembanyama's impressive performance, the young core of the Spurs showed they are a force to be reckoned with in the NBA this season.
With the IPL 2026 trade window open, reports suggest that a major player exchange could be in the cards for Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals. Speculation is rife that KL Rahul and Sanju Samson, two Indian batting stars, could be swapping places in a sensational trade. Given the uncertainty surrounding both players at their current franchises, this move has the potential to shake up the upcoming IPL 2026 auction and make for a major headline in the cricketing world.
After a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Pro Wrestling League is set to return in January 2026. This time, the Wrestling Federation of India has taken charge of payments to ensure fair distribution and transparency. Former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has also been assured that wrestlers who protested against him will not face any discrimination. A settlement between the WFI and previous promoter ProSportify has been reached, with the WFI now in full control of the league's operations.
In a big move ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction, star cricketer Sanju Samson is reportedly set to return to Delhi Capitals. The franchise is planning to trade Tristan Stubbs to Rajasthan Royals, with both teams engaging in trade talks for over a month now. While Delhi is eager to bring Samson in, they are not willing to part with any of their core players, including KL Rahul. Rajasthan, on the other hand, were open to bringing in Stubbs, but negotiations fell through due to their demand for an additional uncapped cricketer. This paves the way for Samson to make a comeback to the Delhi team after exploring trade options with other franchises as well.
Jemimah Rodrigues' unbeaten 127 in India's chase against Australia has been hailed as a true display of resilience, belief, and passion by none other than Virat Kohli. Along with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Rodrigues built a crucial 167-run partnership to end reigning champions Australia's 15-match unbeaten run in the competition. Despite the added pressure of Kaur's dismissal, Jemimah stayed focused and powered India to a historic 5-wicket win.
The city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh organized a Run for Unity Marathon to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the Iron Man of India. Over 2,500 citizens, including ministers, police officials, students, and residents participated in the event, which covered major city landmarks. This event was held as part of the National Unity Day celebrations, with the participants pledging to uphold the ideals of unity, peace, and national security. Even police officials from rural areas took part in the marathon, led by the Police Commissioner Santosh Singh and SP (rural) Yangchen Dolkar Bhutia.