Real Sociedad 1-1 Barcelona (2-3 on penalties): 5 Talking Points as Blaugrana progress to final | Supercopa de Espana 2020-21 

Real Sociedad and Barcelona in the semifinal of the 2020-21 Spanish Super Cup
Real Sociedad and Barcelona in the semifinal of the 2020-21 Spanish Super Cup

#3 Barcelona almost missed Lionel Messi

Barcelona progressed despite the absence of Lionel Messi.
Barcelona progressed despite the absence of Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi has been in fine form for Barcelona since the start of the year, scoring four goals and scored and providing an assist in his last three games.

He, however, missed this clash with what appeared to be a knock, but despite his absence, Barcelona still did enough to progress to the final.

Barcelona were good value for their victory, but Real Sociedad fashioned enough chances both in normal time and extra time to win this clash.

Even though Barcelona progressed to the final without their talisman, Lionel Messi is expected to be fit in time for the final.


#2 Marc-Andre ter Stegen's heroics win the game for Barcelona

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made a series of fine saves in the game.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made a series of fine saves in the game.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen put out one of his best performances in recent memory to help Barcelona reach the final.

The Germany international stood tall to deny Alexander Isak from point-blank range in the early exchanges of the game, and that set the tone for the rest of the clash.

He made a series of routine saves in normal time, but it was in extra time and the penalty shootout where he really stood up to be counted.

The former Borussia Monchengladbach man produced a stunning one-handed save to tip over a ferocious shot by Joseba Zaldua and saved from Oyarzabal after a counterattack had caught Barcelona cold.

Another lightning break saw Adnan Januzaj run half the length of the field before seeing a well-placed shot saved by Ter Stegen in the 115th minute.

Just three minutes later, the former Manchester United man stood over a free kick from 20 yards. However, Januzaj saw his well-struck left-footed effort rattle the post although replays showed the Barcelona keeper might have gotten a fingertip to the ball.

It was more of the same for Ter Stegen in the penalty shootout, as he handed Barcelona the advantage by saving Sociedad's first two penalties before pushing Willian Jose's effort onto the post.


#1 Confident Riqui Puig sends his boyhood club to the final

Riqui Puig scored the decisive penalty.
Riqui Puig scored the decisive penalty.

Riqui Puig has shown enough brilliance over the last year, leading many fans to clamour for his increased inclusion in the Barcelona first team.

However, Ronald Koeman has been adamant that the midfielder does not feature in his plans and suggested a loan transfer for the player for more playing time.

Against Sociedad, the Barcelona manager introduced Puig at the start of extra-time in place of Sergio Busquets, but the 21-year-old made the most of his 30 minutes on the field.

He shone brightly and took two shots while he completed three dribbles and had a remarkable passing accuracy of 92.3%.

Puig's most significant act in the game though, came in the penalty shootout, where he stepped up to take the decisive penalty to send his boyhood club to the final.

Before him, Frenkie de Jong and Antoine Griezmann had missed from 12 yards, but Puig produced a well-taken penalty in what could be a marker of his readiness for the Barcelona first team.

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Edited by Bhargav
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