Ter Stegen 10/10, Araujo 9/10 as Messi-less Barca attain Supercopa last

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Marc-Andre ter Stegen was the hero as Barcelona wanted a penalty shootout to beat Actual Sociedad (1-1) on Wednesday and e-book their place within the last of the Spanish Supercopa.

Riqui Puig scored the profitable penalty to arrange a gathering with Actual Madrid or Athletic Bilbao on Sunday however solely after a sensational efficiency from Ter Stegen. Frenkie de Jong had given Barca the lead within the first half however Mikel Oyarzabal‘s second-half penalty, awarded for a handball by De Jong, took the sport into extra-time.

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La Actual have been the higher facet within the further half-hour, however Ter Stegen made three beautiful saves to take the sport to penalties, the place he saved out spot-kicks from Oyarzabal and Jon Bautista.

De Jong hit the publish for Barca and Griezmann blazed over however after Ousmane Dembele and Miralem Pjanic transformed, Puig stepped as much as rating the decisive penalty.

Positives

Ronald Koeman will not have the benefit of seeing his facet having to defend a lot however he could have been happy by the efficiency delivered by Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan was sensible, second solely to Ter Stegen, as Barca saved La Actual at bay in an open sport. Puig, whose minutes have been restricted this season, will take confidence from stroking dwelling the profitable spot-kick, too.

The win means Barca will be capable of win their first piece of silverware on Sunday, which may show a springboard for his or her stuttering season.

Negatives

The unhealthy information arrived earlier than kick-off with Lionel Messi not deemed match sufficient to even make the bench and Sergino Dest unable to start out as a result of he was carrying a slight knock.

As for the sport, Barca struggled to regulate the match like they’ve finished in current weeks and drained because the minutes handed. There’s nonetheless loads of room for enchancment. The actual fact they needed to play 120 minutes, too, in an already packed season wasn’t preferrred.

Supervisor ranking out of 10

6 — Koeman was lacking 5 gamers via damage so his fingers have been tied to a sure diploma however he may have made adjustments earlier to attempt to keep away from extra-time.

Participant scores (1-10; 10 = greatest. Gamers launched after 70 minutes get no ranking)

GK Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 10 — Wasn’t overworked in regular time however produced three beautiful saves in extra-time, the primary from Joseba Zaldua after which two from Adnan Januzaj, the second of which was distinctive. Then got here the penalty heroics.

DF Oscar Mingueza, 7 — Confirmed his versatility by changing Dest at right-back. Proving a extremely good defender to have within the squad.

DF Ronald Araujo, 9 — Maybe his greatest efficiency in a Barca shirt but. Robust and fast throughout the bottom and dominant within the air towards a La Actual facet who posed loads of issues.

DF Clement Lenglet, 7 — Has benefitted from Araujo’s kind and improved in current video games following a troublesome spell earlier this season when he made numerous errors.

DF Jordi Alba, 6 — Did OK defensively however did not contribute as he often does in assault.

MF Sergio Busquets, 8 — What he lacked in his legs he made up for positionally, studying the sport splendidly to snuff out a number of Sociedad assaults.

MF Frenkie de Jong, 8 — Continued his high quality current kind with one other continuous show in midfield. Bought right into a ridiculous place to attach with Griezmann’s cross to open the scoring and was unfortunate to provide away the penalty for handball.

MF Pedri, 7 — Has already made himself undroppable. So modern on the ball as soon as once more, he was simply lacking Messi’s presence, who he is linked so effectively with in current weeks.

FW Ousmane Dembele, 7 — Laborious to recall a sport when he noticed a lot of the ball. Was reckless with it at occasions however saved asking for it and at all times regarded a menace when working on the opposition. Wasted a few good assaults in extra-time.

FW Antoine Griezmann, 6 — Labored laborious and arrange De Jong’s header however Koeman could have wished him to be simpler within the last third. The much less mentioned about his penalty the higher.

FW Martin Braithwaite, 6 — Did effectively within the build-up to De Jong’s purpose and labored the road tirelessly earlier than coming off with quarter-hour to go in regular time.

Substitutes

FW Francisco Trincao, 6 — Appeared to open the sport up by taking up gamers however usually lacked assist.

MF Riqui Puig, 6 — Confidently scored the profitable penalty after being introduced on for extra-time.

MF Miralem Pjanic, 6 — Like Puig, netted from the spot after approaching for extra-time.

DF Junior Firpo, N/R — Handed a couple of minutes late on instead of Mingueza.

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