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Barcelona to meet rivals Real in Super Cup final

FC Barcelona secured their passage to the Spanish Super Cup final after overcoming Real Betis via the penalty shoot-out on Thursday night.

Veteran Sergio Busquets and Ferran Torres were named on the Catalans bench, as Robert Lewandowski was back from the win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

An early opening followed for the Blaugrana where Raphinha cut in to play a lurking Lewandowski in on goal, but goalkeeper Claudio Bravo came out rushing and smothered.

Read: Real Madrid advance to Spanish Super Cup final

Barcelona did though put one over their former keeper to the half-hour mark as Pedri flicked in a chipped delivery from Raphinha before a review signaled an offside.

The Greens were inches away from the deadlock late in the half when a teasing effort by German Pezzella from a floated corner forced Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to an awkward stop.

It was the Catalans that got the opening goal five minutes to halftime after Lewandowski worked space in the box and needed two attempts to bundle in Ousmane Dembele's cutback.

The Greens introduced William Carvalho ahead of Sergio Canales before the resumption of the second half, with Luiz Henrique keeping the Catalans busy earlier on.

The Blaugrana struggled to contain their cushion and surrendered when Nabil Fekir latched on the end of Henrique's layoff with minutes to go and beat Ter Stegen.

Barcelona looked to have gone ahead again with eight minutes to go through Lewandowski's finish, but it didn't stand after a pitch-side review spotted an offside, sending the game to extra-time.

Barca were out guns blazing two minutes in extra-time and regained the lead from a thumping finish on the volley by substitute Ansu Fati after the Greens failed to cover their lines.

However, Betis levelled nine minutes apart when Lorenzo Moron Garcia took a cutback by Henrique from an awkward position in his stride and finished past Ter Stegen.

There were drama in the latter stages with Betis reduced to ten players after Andres Guardado walked the plank for a second bookable offence, whilst a penalty shoot-out showed.

As Betis missed two of their spot-kicks, the Catalans emerged victorious after Pedri netted the winning kick and set-up a final with Real Madrid on Sunday.

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