Real Madrid 1-1 Valencia: Los Blancos advance to Supercopa final with penalty shoot-out win over Gennaro Gattuso’s side

A fine shoot-out performance saw Real Madrid advance to the final of the Supercopa de Espana after beating Valencia on penalties.

The sides couldn’t be separated after Karim Benzema’s first-half penalty was cancelled out by Samuel Lino’s equaliser.

Rodrygo had the first big chance of the game when he broke free beyond the Valencia backline but skewed his effort from a tight angle high and wide.

Madrid had a handful of chances in the first 15 minutes including a dazzling Benzema run into the box before watching his effort flash wide, as well as Federico Valverde’s long-range shot from 30 yards out that fizzed wide.

But the story of the first half quickly changed when Valencia took control with a few chances of their own.

Edison Cavani forced a good save out of Thibaut Courtois with a close-range header, and Justin Kluivert also threatened Madrid’s goal with a couple of blocked shots.

Madrid went on to take the lead against the run of play when Benzema was foolishly brought down by Eray Comert after the Frenchman had broken through on goal.

Comert, who was never getting near Benzema, chose to bring the striker down as Benzema looked to pull the trigger, giving referee Alejandro Hernandez no other choice but to point to the spot and caution the defender.

Benzema calmly rolled the ball into the bottom right corner to give the current holders the lead.

Valencia wasted no time getting back into the game after the restart, as Lino took advantage of a sleepy Madrid defence to attack a deep Toni Lato cross at the back post to send the ball beyond a stunned Courtois.

Madrid continued the second half as they began it, struggling to get into their rhythm and Valencia found themselves on top for the majority of the half.

In a half of little chances, Benzema had an opportunity to snatch a winner with minutes to go when he met a Valverde cross, but guided his header over the bar.

Madrid were fortunately presented with another huge chance through Vinicius Junior deep into added time, but as the ball fell to him in acres of space six yards from goal, Giorgi Mamardashvili came rushing out to deny him.

Mamardashvili pulled another great save out early into the first period of extra time to deny Vinicius once more, who tried to bend an effort into the top right corner from the edge of the box.

Fran Perez scuppered a big chance to give Valencia the advantage in the first half of extra time when he drove into the Madrid penalty box, but instead of slotting the ball to the bottom right of Courtois’s goal, which seemed the inevitable decision, opted to cut inside of the onrushing Antonio Rudiger into the congested area where he was challenged and dispossessed.

Courtois prevented Valencia from taking the lead ten minutes from full time in extra time when Perez found himself one-on-one with the Belgian again.

This time, Perez did get a quick shot away as he lifted the ball toward goal, but Courtois matched the effort with a strong right hand to turn the ball behind for a corner.

It was Madrid who on penalties, scoring all four of their spot-kicks with Courtois also excelling.

Madrid will face either Real Betis or Barcelona in Sunday’s final, who play on Thursday night, to defend their title.

TALKING POINT – MADRID HUNT 13TH SUPERCOPA

The current holders reach another Spanish Super Cup final as they hunt a record 13th title in Carlo Ancelotti’s 201st game as Real Madrid manager. They weren’t at their best tonight and would have desperately wanted to avoid penalties considering the most recent editions of the tournament take place mid-season rather than being the season’s curtain raiser, but they got there in the end and won’t turn down the chance to add another trophy to the cabinet.

They’ll need to step things up in the final as they haven’t been at their best post-World Cup. The stakes could rise if Barcelona get the better of Real Betis and reach the final, though, in what could be a mouth-watering El Classico in Saudi Arabia.

Barcelona are the record holders with 13 titles, and Real Madrid’s incentive may escalate as they’ll be desperate to match it.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – GIORGI MAMARDASHVILI (VALENCIA)

The 22-year-old put on a fine display and was a catalyst in Valencia taking Madrid all the way to a shootout. He made two or three game-saving stops to keep his team’s hopes of reaching the final alive.

His best moment came when he rushed off his line to deny Vinicius from close-range in the 95th minute, which would have surely sent Valencia packing after normal time if it had beaten him.

MATCH RATINGS

REAL MADRID: Courtois 7, Vazquez 7, Militao 7, Rudiger 7, Fernandez 8, Valverde 7, Camavinga 6, Kroos 7, Rodrygo 7, Benzema 8, Vinicius 7

Subs: Carvajal 6, Mendy 6, Modric 6, Ceballos 6,Asensio 6

VALENCIA: Mamardashvili 8, Gaya 8, Comert 6, Ozkacar 7, Correia 7, Musah 6, Almeida 8, Lino 8, Lato 8, Cavani 7, Kluivert 6

Subs: Foulquier 6, Guillamon N/A, Moriba 6, Perez 7, Duro 6

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

10’ – GREAT CHANCE FOR MADRID! Rodrygo bursts forward beyond the Valencia back line and tees up a shot, but his effort from a tight angle is high and wide.

14’ – BRILLIANT RUN FROM BENZEMA! Madrid’s captain darts into the box taking on two players before sticking the ball through a third defender’s legs, but his shot is off-target at the near post.

20’ – VALENCIA PENALTY SHOUT! Toni Lato looks to cut inside of Courtois who rashly comes off his line as the Valencia winger receives the ball with lots of space, but as he comes across the goalkeeper looks to throw himself to the floor. It looks like there was contact, but VAR aren’t interested.

38’ – PENALTY REAL MADRID! Eray Comert brings down Benzema as the Frenchman breaks through on goal!

39’ – GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 VALENCIA (BENZEMA): Benzema converts from the spot! He cooly rolls the ball into the bottom right corner. Madrid lead!

48’ – GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-1 VALENCIA (LINO) – Lato swings in a deep cross towards the back post where Lino takes advantage of a sleepy Madrid defence to attack the ball and poke it beyond Courtois.

90’+5 – HUGE SAVE TO DENY VINICIUS! Madrid break forward and Vinicius is presented with the best opportunity of the half by far as Mamardashvili races off his line to defend the forward’s effort from close-range. Big, big save!

101’ – BIG VALENCIA OPPORTUNITY MISSED! Fran Perez finds himself through on goal, but instead of slotting a shot around Courtois which seemed the obvious decision, tried to cut inside of Rudiger where he was challenged and dispossessed.

110’ – HUGE STOP FROM COURTOIS! Another Perez chance goes begging as he does everything possible to beat Courtois with a lifted effort in a one-on-one, but the Belgian gets a strong arm to the ball to send it behind for a corner. That keeps Madrid alive!

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