RIYADH: Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal shoots to score during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Osasuna at Al-Awwal Park.—Reuters

       RIYADH: Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal scored second-half goals to give Barcelona an 2-0 win over Osasuna in a dour Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

       Barca set up a dream showpiece clash on Sunday with Real Madrid, who had beaten city rivals Atletico Madrid in a breathtaking 5-3 derby earlier in the week. It will be a re-match from last year’s final, which the Catalans won 3-1.

       “We want to take the ball off Real, that’s our DNA, we’re hugely motivated, it’s the moment to show our best football,” Xavi told reporters. “We’re in another final, another Clasico, which was our main objective —we didn’t play a brilliant game, but a serious, sensible one.

       “Every Clasico has its own story, we can’t predict many things, only that it will be an even game. You don’t play finals, you win them. We want to compete against an opponent who I saw very well in the other semi-final.

       “However, there are no favourites, it’s an El Clasico. Hopefully the final will go our way like last year. We are the reigning champions and at least we will enjoy it.”

       Barcelona dominated possession in a dismal first half but were bereft of ideas and barely threatened their opponents.

       Lewandowski could have done better in a couple of half-chances that were denied by a

       confident Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera, but it was not until the 59th minute that

       Barca came to life and managed to break the deadlock.

       Ilkay Gundogan picked out Lewandowski with a through-ball and the striker scored from close-range.

       However, Osasuna players were left fuming and complained to the referee that Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen had fouled Jose Arnaiz before starting the counter-attack, but a VAR check confirmed the goal.

       After Lewandowski’s goal, Xavi brought Joao Felix off the bench and the Portuguese forward added impetus Barca seemed to lack up-front, forcing goalkeeper Herrera to make a couple of fine saves to keep Osasuna alive.

       Joao Felix created a quick counter and provided the assist to Yamal who blasted low in to the net to secure the win and set-up an El Clasico in the final.

       Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2024