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Barcelona set up an El Clasico clash with Real Madrid in the Supercopa final after beating Real Betis 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the King Fahd International Stadium on Thursday.
Goals from Robert Lewandowski and Nabil Fekir sent the game to extra time in Riyadh, before a wonderstrike from Ansu Fati was cancelled out by Loren Moron’s cheeky backheel to force a penalty shoot-out.
Juanmi and William Carvalho saw their spot-kicks saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, allowing Pedri to clinch progress to the final.
Barca will now face Madrid on Sunday for the first time in the competition since it changed to a four-team format in 2019-20.
Xavi’s side were denied a 23rd-minute opener when Raphinha was judged to have been fractionally offside before he crossed for Pedri to finish.
There was no denying them just before half-time though.
Ousmane Dembele dribbled past Aitor Ruibal on the left and fed Lewandowski, who scored after his first effort was blocked by Luiz Felipe.
The second half was largely without incident until the 77th minute when Luiz Henrique sold Ferran Torres a dummy on the edge of the box before teeing up Fekir to beat Ter Stegen at his near post.
Lewandowski thought he had a second shortly after, only for Barca to be denied again as Torres was offside in the build-up.
They did restore the lead two minutes into extra time, Fati volleying into the bottom-right corner from just outside the box.
But back came Betis, the lively Luiz Henrique squaring to Loren, whose backheeled effort from close range deflected in off Ronald Araujo.
Betis substitute Andres Guardado was sent off for two bookings before the game went to penalties, which were decided by Ter Stegen saving twice down to his right and Pedri wrapping things up.
Saudi Arabia finally has what it wanted: El Clasico. Barca and Madrid will tussle in the Supercopa final on Sunday.