Madrid reach Spanish Super Cup final after epic semi win

Real Madrid booked their place in the final of the Spanish Super Cup. The Whites will face the winners of the Barcelona-Osasuna semi-final on Sunday after edging out Atlético in a spectacular Madrid derby. The clash went to extra-time at 3-3 after goals from Rüdiger, Mendy and Carvajal, and was decided in extra time with Savic's own goal and Brahim's clincher. This was a thrilling game of football which saw Dani Carvajal named MVP in the Madrid derby played in Riyadh.

It was first blood to Atlético with barely six minutes on the clock. Samu Lino's shot from the edge of the area was parried away by Kepa for a corner. Mario Hermoso headed in from the corner to put his team ahead. Madrid replied in the 14^th minute in a similar fashion. Modrić’s out-swinging cross was powerfully met by Rüdiger whose header sailed into the back of the net.

Mendy puts the Whites ahead
The game was back on level terms with 30 minutes played, but it didn't take long for Ancelotti's side to claw their way back into the lead. Madrid made it 2-1 on the half-hour mark. The build-up play was well worked out and involved practically the whole team before the full-backs made the difference. Carvajal played a low pass into the area and Mendy’s flick eluded the defence to find its way into the far corner of the goal.

This derby was turning out to be absolutely breathtaking. The game was being played at a blistering pace and Atlético scored again when Griezmann fired past Kepa in the 37th minute with a right-footed strike from the edge of the area. Madrid almost made it 3-2 on the stroke of halftime. Rüdiger's pass through the defence was chested down inside the box by Rodrygo, who feigned to shoot past Giménez and hit a left-footed effort, but Oblak, while on the ground, managed to claw the ball back before it crossed the goal line.

More excitement in the second half
The high tempo did not abate after the restart and the first chance fell to Atlético as Samu Lino's left-footed shot skimmed the post in the 54th minute. The minutes ticked by and the number of chances were fewer and farther between than in the first half. In the 70th minute, the Whites had a golden chance to take the lead. Vini Jr. cleverly took a free kick when the wall was being set up and left Carvajal found himself one-on-one with Oblak, but the goalie stood tall and denied the defender. It was all to play for and the game turned against Madrid after a move that was met with protest. Kepa attempted to clear a cross into the penalty area and was blocked by Morata. The ball hit Rüdiger and went in in the 79th minute (2-3).

With just over ten minutes remaining to try to force extra-time, Madrid threw everything at it. Vini Jr. broke down the left and his shot was saved by the keeper’s legs. Bellingham followed up and his two efforts were blocked before the loose ball fell the Carvajal who smashed it into the top corner to draw the Whites level.

Extra-time
The Madrid derby headed to extra-time despite the White' late assault on the Atlético goal. Brahim had the chance to prevent it in stoppage time with a fine run before his effort kissed the post. The first half saw Madrid in total control, but chances were few and far between. But then Carvajal popped up again, the MVP of the semi-final. The full-back got past Azpilicueta after a fine piece of control with his chest and he crossed for Joselu. The ball deflected off Savic and looped over the outstretching keeper into the net to make it 4-3. Then in stoppage time, Brahim scored a fifth for Ancelotti’s side to book their place in Sunday’s final.