In a thrilling match in Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid overcame Atletico Madrid 5-3 in overtime to go to the Spanish Super Cup final on Wednesday.
At the Al-Awwal Park stadium in Riyadh, Mario Hermoso and Antonio Rudiger traded early headed goals until Ferland Mendy put Madrid ahead.
After Kepa Arrizabalaga’s own goal put the Rojilbancos ahead, Antoine Griezmann leveled the score for Atletico to become their all-time greatest scorer. However, Dani Carvajal broke the tie and forced extra time.
Stefan Savic’s own goal gave Madrid the advantage just as the game was about to go to penalties, and Brahim Diaz sealed the victory with a counterattack that left Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak wide open.
Either Barcelona or Osasuna, who play each other on Thursday in the second semi-final, will play Madrid in the final on Sunday.
September is when Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid defeated Real Madrid for the first time this season. They got off to a fast start, with Samuel Lino putting Arrizabalaga to the test just before they seized the lead.
After six minutes, Hermoso scored the first goal with a header from Griezmann’s corner after Rodrygo was unable to fight him in the air.
Similar to how he dodged Savic and nodded Luka Modric’s corner in, Rudiger leveled the score for Madrid.
Madrid, who had not lost in twenty games, were in control of the game until full-back Mendy took advantage of a low cross from Carvajal with a clever flicked finish.
The Milestone Man
In a thrilling first half, Griezmann headed into Arrizabalaga’s hands, turned away from Modric, and drove home from the outside of the box to tie the score for Atletico.
With 174 goals, the goal moved him ahead of the late Luis Aragones to become Atletico’s all-time best scorer.
Before the half, Rodrygo led Atletico’s defense in a joyful dance and came close to giving Madrid the lead again, but Oblak parried his attempt and collected the loose ball before it could cross the goal line.
Toni Kroos, a second-half substitution for Los Blancos, was heckled by Saudi fans, who mostly supported Real Madrid, after the player had criticized players who had moved to Saudi Arabia from European football last summer in quest of financial success.
Twelve minutes remained when Atletico seized the lead, thanks to a brilliant stop from Oblak against Carvajal.
As Arrizabalaga attempted to collect a cross, he collided with Alvaro Morata, and the ball rebounded off the Chelsea goalkeeper on loan and into Madrid’s goal.
Madrid objected, claiming that Morata could have fouled, but the referees found nothing wrong.
With five minutes remaining, however, Carvajal scored, sending a rebound into the top corner after Jude Bellingham’s attempt had been pushed off the line.
In extra time, the match became more tightly contested; neither side was able to create clear opportunities with the same fervor as in the first ninety minutes.
Four minutes from time, Savic, heading a cross from Carvajal, diverted the ball past the scurrying Oblak and into his own goal, giving Madrid the lead.
Oblak was caught out of position, and Diaz beat him to the ball and drove into the empty goal from a distance to clinch the victory as Atletico pressed for an equalizer.
Barcelona, the defending Super Cup holders and Spanish champions, will try to defeat Osasuna on Thursday in order to set up a rematch of the Clasico final from the previous year.