Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 5-3 after extra time in a thrilling match in Saudi Arabia to advance to the Spanish Super Cup final on Wednesday.
Mario Hermoso and Antonio Rudiger swapped early headed goals before Ferland Mendy put Madrid ahead at the Al-Awwal Park stadium in Riyadh.
Antoine Griezmann leveled for Atletico, becoming their all-time greatest scorer, and Kepa Arrizabalaga’s own goal put the Rojilbancos ahead, but Dani Carvajal equalized for Madrid and forced extra time.
With the game heading to penalties, Stefan Savic’s own goal put Madrid ahead, and Brahim Diaz sealed the victory on the counter-attack with Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak stranded out of position.
Madrid will face either Barcelona or Osasuna in the final on Sunday, with the other semi-final taking place Thursday.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are the only team to have beaten Madrid this season, in September, and they started well, with Samuel Lino challenging Arrizabalaga before taking the lead.
After six minutes, Hermoso headed in the opening goal from Griezmann’s corner as Rodrygo failed to challenge him in the air.
Rudiger equalised for Madrid in a similar fashion, escaping Savic and nodding Luka Modric’s corner home.
Madrid, who had not lost in 20 matches, were on top, and full-back Mendy took advantage with a neat flicked finish from Carvajal’s low cross.
· Milestone player – Griezmann equalized for Atletico in a thrilling first half, twisting away from Modric and driving home from the edge of the area.
With 174 goals, he now leads Atletico’s all-time scoring list, surpassing the late Luis Aragones.
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Rodrygo nearly put Madrid ahead again before the break, sending Atletico’s defence on a merry dance, but Oblak saved his shot and collected the loose ball before it could cross the line.
Despite predominantly supporting Real Madrid, Saudi fans jeered Los Blancos midfielder Toni Kroos, who came on as a second-half replacement, after he criticized players who moved to Saudi Arabia from European football last summer in search of riches.
Oblak produced an excellent stop to deny Carvajal before Atletico took the lead with 12 minutes left.
Arrizabalaga collided with Alvaro Morata as he attempted to catch a cross, and the ball rebounded into Madrid’s goal off the on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper.
Madrid protested, claiming a probable foul by Morata, but the authorities found no violation.
However, Carvajal scored with five minutes remaining, rattling a rebound into the top corner after Jude Bellingham’s effort was cleared off the line.
The game tightened in extra time, no longer as end-to-end, with neither team able to create clear chances with the abandon they did in the first 90 minutes.
Madrid eventually took the lead four minutes from time, with Joselu headed Carvajal’s cross at Savic, who deflected the ball past the scrambling Oblak and into his own net.
With Atletico desperate for a leveller, Oblak was caught off guard, as Diaz beat him to the ball and drove into an empty net from distance to seal the victory.
Barcelona, the Spanish champions and reigning Super Cup winners, will try to duplicate last season’s Clasico final by defeating Osasuna on Thursday.