Real Betis vs Barcelona

Live updates as Betis face Barça in the 2023 Spanish Super Cup semi-finals today, Thursday 12 January 2023, at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

Helped, of course, by the fact that more clubs now qualify for the tournament, Barcelona have been absolute Super Cup regulars in recent years. Real Betis, on the other hand, have very little Super Cup experience. The captain's armband, by the way, features an image of Juan Miranda's winning penalty in the Copa del Rey final shootout against Valencia in April. After three and a half years in Seville, the left-back joined Premier League side Aston Villa yesterday. The first two were scored after utterly filthy passes from Ronaldinho and Xavi. Guys like Sergio Canales and Nabil Fekir are also looking to get the team playing. In 2021/22, they took a victory apiece from their two clashes in the Spanish top flight, with both teams winning away. “They like to have the ball. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Xavi said of his fellow World Cup winner: “He’s so important. With just under five minutes to go until Carlos del Cerro Grande gets this semi-final away, here's a final look at the teams: We’ll find it difficult to get the ball off them. “It’s a big loss for us," the 69-year-old said.

Barcelona lead the La Liga standings, yet the Blaugrana will know their form outside of league play has been poor as they meet Real Betis in the semifinals ...

Rodriguez — Henrique, Fekir, Canales, Rodri — Iglesias. 75 mins to kick: Real Betis wasted no time in securing a replacement at left-back for the departure of Alex Moreno to Aston Villa. Gavi — 22. Alba — 8. 9th min: Barcelona with the game's first corner, and 39-year-old Claudio Bravo comes to to punch. 15th min: Barcelona are running circles around Real Betis at the moment. Then, Sergi Roberto intercepts a Betis move inside the 18-yard-box and touches it back to ter Stegen, but the Barcelona goalkeeper has to clear it with a slide. ter Stegen (GK) — S. Rodri — 9. Rodriguez — 11. Miranda — 5. Bravo (GK) — 24.

Barcelona lead the La Liga standings, yet the Blaugrana will know their form outside of league play has been poor as they meet Real Betis in the semifinals ...

Rodriguez — Henrique, Fekir, Canales, Rodri — Iglesias. 75 mins to kick: Real Betis wasted no time in securing a replacement at left-back for the departure of Alex Moreno to Aston Villa. Gavi — 22. Alba — 8. 9th min: Barcelona with the game's first corner, and 39-year-old Claudio Bravo comes to to punch. 15th min: Barcelona are running circles around Real Betis at the moment. Then, Sergi Roberto intercepts a Betis move inside the 18-yard-box and touches it back to ter Stegen, but the Barcelona goalkeeper has to clear it with a slide. ter Stegen (GK) — S. Rodri — 9. Rodriguez — 11. Miranda — 5. Bravo (GK) — 24.

Betis came back in the second half, pressing Barcelona up-front, and Nabil Fekir slotted in a low shot just inside the far post in the 77th minute after being set-up by Luiz Henrique. Lewandowski thought he had put Barca back in front with a strike three ...

"It was a very difficult match mainly after the break because they dominated possession and made it really though for us. [Luiz Henrique](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/304215/Luiz-Henrique) and [Rodri](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231828/Rodri)'s bullet-like shots, [Ousmane Dembele](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/229744/Ousmane-Dembélé) burst forward in a fine individual effort before he passed the ball to [Robert Lewandowski](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/125824/Robert-Lewandowski), who beat goalkeeper [Claudio Bravo](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/85373/Claudio-Bravo) from close range to score the opener. "I'm very proud of myself. [Nabil Fekir](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/189025/Nabil-Fekir) slotted in a low shot just inside the far post in the 77th minute after being set-up by Luiz Henrique. "It was a beautiful match, one of those the fans show up to watch," Ter Stegen said after the match. [Marc-Andre ter Stegen](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/140740/Marc-André-ter-Stegen) saved [Juanmi](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/143643/Juanmi)'s and [William Carvalho](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/157390/William-Carvalho)'s poorly-struck spot kicks to give [Barcelona](/soccer/team?id=83) a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Betis after the teams had finished level at 2-2 following extra time in their Spanish Super Cup semifinal in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

Barcelona has not won a trophy since 2021 and Xavi, taking over as manager in November that year, will look for the first silverware under him.

And manger Xavi Hernandez has said winning the Spanish Super Cup this week would reinforce his project and bring calm to the club. The Spanish Super Cup is their first chance this season to prove the investment was wise and the project is moving in the right direction. “I have my hope and desire intact from the first day, I’m here to win titles and if there are no titles this season, you’ll kill me, that’s how it is,” Xavi told reporters Wednesday.