Audio By Carbonatix
Raul Garcia bagged a brace as Athletic Club set up a Spanish Supercopa final meeting with Barcelona with a 2-1 semi final win over Real Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane stuck with the same team that laboured to a goalless draw against Osasuna on Saturday, refusing the opportunity to rotate his squad despite the number of games Los Blancos have played of late.
An element of weariness was evident in their play from the start and Athletic Club made the most of that to open the scoring after 18 minutes, with Raul Garcia sliding a finish underneath Thibaut Courtois after some slack defensive play.
Athletic Club doubled their advantage seven minutes from half time when Lucas Vazquez brought down Iker Muniain inside the box, giving Garcia the opportunity to score his second from the spot.
Marco Asensio struck the woodwork no fewer than three times before Karim Benzema scored a close-range effort following a VAR check to give the Spanish champions a lifeline with 17 minutes left to play.
Courtois made a big save to prevent Athletic Club a third goal through Asier Villalibre, with Sergio Ramos also coming close to an equaliser with a header just wide, but the Basque side got the job done to set up a clash with Barcelona in Seville on Sunday.
Latest Stories
-
‘I don’t expect preferential treatment for me, my party or gov’t’ – Mahama to new EC deputies
14 minutes -
Mahama tasks new EC Deputy Chairpersons to protect electoral integrity
15 minutes -
Police arrest officer after shooting injures 2 at Ritz Junction
16 minutes -
‘Delete, retract, apologise’ – Agyinasare urges Ghanaians to take responsibility for misinformation
16 minutes -
Saudi minister vows ‘serious response’ to Houthi attacks on airports
39 minutes -
When dialogue fails and strikes speak: Is industrial action the only language government understands?
45 minutes -
Ghana launches Social Protection Act regulations and Affirmative Action Gender Equity Regulations
46 minutes -
Mahama swears in Emelia Afi Agbenyo, Joseph Kwaku Asamoah as EC Deputy Commissioners
56 minutes -
Wetland communities in Northern Ghana face a hotter, flood-prone future as climate risks intensif
58 minutes -
Sam George tasks KNUST to develop Twi AI model as Ghana plans local-language artificial intelligence
1 hour -
Poor roads choking eco-tourism potential – Avatime Paramount Chief cries out
1 hour -
DVLA records GH¢25 million surplus in 2025 as contributions to state funds reach GH¢98.1 million
1 hour -
Over 10 suspected scam centre kingpins arrested and remanded – CSA
1 hour -
Ministers, CEOs, policymakers to grace 7th Africa Public Sector Conference in Accra
1 hour -
NDC sets filing fees for national executive elections, with chairman aspirants paying GH¢100,000
1 hour