by Xavi Hernández had said that one would be enough but, in the end, in the end, it was two. Robert Lewandowski’s strike and another from Lamine Yamal on 92 minutes gave Barcelona a more than one goal win for the first time in 21 games, the longest run in their history, to progress to the final of the Spanish Super Cup. Here, in Saudi Arabia on Sunday night, Real Madrid are waiting, as they did last year. “It’s been a long time, it’s true, but it doesn’t matter: it was about winning,” said midfielder Frenkie de Jong when it was finally over.
Meanwhile, their opponents Osasuna go back to Spain. This may be a minor competition for most but for a club without a trophy it was the most important, no matter how much they would have preferred to fight for it at home. They have a journey of 5,000km ahead of them, enough time to make up for lost opportunities. Or, they felt, taken away, David García complaining about what he called an “obvious lie” from Andreas Christensen on José Arnaiz in the run-up to Lewandowski’s opening goal, even if replays suggested there wasn’t much. “We deserved more but it wasn’t to be,” said García.
Related: Real Madrid beat Atlético 5-3 in Saudi Arabia to reach Spanish Super Cup final
In Barcelona’s case there was a cautious sense of satisfaction in the celebration. The margin of victory may not seem that impressive and Xavi insisted that a win is a win, especially in a semi-final, but that run was symbolic of their struggles, however small they certainly are. This wasn’t brilliant, but it was a little better. De Jong said it was a “serious” display, and that’s progress. There is also hope for a return after Pedri’s injury, which the coach said “brings clarity to our play”.
It was not easy, Xavi said, especially at first. The second half was better but it would still take extra time, with Osasuna pushing for an equaliser, to get the second goal and win.
In the first half, Barcelona’s possession was up almost 70%, but although they controlled the ball it went from side to side and back again as they struggled to find a way through the line five. The spaces Xavi’s side were waiting for refused to appear and the only time they looked like running into a gap was Alejandro Catena bringing down Raphinha.
A free kick that Ilkay Gündogan tried to find Sergio Herrera, Christensen had a safe flight and Ferran Torres swung around the world. There was also a fluffed effort from Sergi Roberto. Those were half chances, however, and better opportunities came for Lewandowski. That was once a guarantee but he has looked palpable of late, scoring once in the past six league games, and it would take until the second half for him to produce the defining moment of the night.
Played in by Roberto, the Pole was unable to bend a shot past the goalkeeper’s arm and when he outjumped everyone on the edge of the six-yard box he steered his header wide. Yamal’s clever pass then found him just before half-time but García slid in to close it down.
Osasuna were contained but also threatened at times, Arnaiz’s shot flying wide and Jesús Areso’s deflected effort skimming the post. When Ante Budimir turned sharply, the ball slipping through the legs of Ronald Araújo, Iñaki Peña had to move quickly, a strong left hand blocking the Osasuna striker. The keeper then pushed Rubén Peña’s free kick away. Budimir had also laid one for Arnaiz, placing the shot superbly; this time, it was Araújo who got the way.
The next chance came just before the hour mark and this time the real Lewandowski stood up. Collecting Gündogan’s clever pass, he managed to rise to a challenge and hit a clean, well-disguised shot into the corner, next to the post. Sliding to his knees, hands out, there was a hint of justification in his celebration. There was recrimination in Osasuna’s reaction, appealing for a foul that even Xavi said he would have been “blown alive” but not when he was looking back on it.
So often this season Barcelona conceded the first goal and had to come from behind; now they had the goal they wanted and, in theory, the game they wanted too. João Félix and Pedri came forward to reinforce that. The former brought the kind of control that reminded everyone of how much they had missed and the latter soon drew a sharp save from Herrera.
This was not comfortable: Osasuna was not giving up. Peña denied Budimir and was unable to make a neat combination with Raúl García in the area. Christensen, at his best, had to intercept Kike Barja’s cross in pursuit of Budimir and Jon Moncayola’s volley was blocked. Great movement from Aimar Oroz and Rubén García set up Raúl García but his shot flew high. Xavi looked nervously at the scoreboard.
There were three minutes left and the lead was still only one. But for the first time since September the situation changed when Félix found everything Yamal found to propel Barcelona into the final.
