La Liga Roundup: Madrid beats Valencia on penalties in Super Cup semifinal
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Real Madrid will get one other probability to have a good time a Spanish Super Cup title in Saudi Arabia.
Madrid defeated Valencia 4-3 in a penalty shootout in Wednesday’s semifinal and can attempt to win its third Super Cup title within the Middle East nation on Sunday.
The defending champions will face both Barcelona or Real Betis, which play within the different semifinal on Thursday. The ultimate will probably be on the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.
Valencia defender Eray Cömert despatched his spot kick over the crossbar and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved the penalty taken by Jose Luis Gaya to provide Madrid the victory.
The groups drew 1-1 in regulation and had been scoreless in further time. Karim Benzema and Samuel Lino scored for both sides.
Benzema additionally transformed his penalty within the shootout, as did Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Marco Asensio for Madrid. Edinson Cavani, Ilaix Moriba and Hugo Guillamon scored from the spot for Valencia.
“It was a tough match,” Asensio mentioned. “We struggled a bit, but what matters is that we made it to the final and will have a chance to win another title.”
This is the fourth version of the revamped Super Cup, which was once performed solely between the Spanish league champion and the Copa del Rey winner. Now the runners-up in each competitions additionally take part, forming a Final Four match that was taken to Saudi Arabia in a profitable deal for the Spanish soccer federation. Madrid clinched the league forward of Barcelona final season, whereas Betis gained the Copa ultimate towards Valencia.
Madrid gained two of the primary three editions of the revamped match, in 2020 and 2022. Athletic Bilbao gained it in 2021, when the match was performed again in Spain due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Madrid opened the scoring with a penalty kick transformed by Benzema within the thirty ninth minute after he was fouled inside the realm following a breakaway.
Valencia equalized lower than a minute into the second half with Lino discovering the online from shut vary after a well-placed cross by Toni Lato.
Madrid ahead Vinicius Junior had a fantastic probability to maintain the sport from going into further time, however his close-range shot 5 minutes into stoppage time was saved by Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Mamardashvili additionally got here up with huge saves in further time, as did Courtois.
Madrid traveled to Saudi Arabia with out defender David Alaba and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni due to accidents. Fullbacks Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy are with the squad however didn’t begin as they weren’t totally match, coming off the bench later within the match.
Valencia, coached by Gennaro Gattuso, was attempting to rebound from a troublesome run during which it gained solely one in every of its final eight Spanish league video games.
“We are proud of the team,” Valencia midfielder Andre Almeida mentioned. “We showed our quality. We deserved to win.”
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