Saudi Arabian royalty paid good money to bring a slice of Spanish football to their shores – and although they got to see two eventful semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup, they will get to watch the ultimate encounter in the final – Real Madrid against Barcelona.The much-desired show for the Saudis was set up thanks to Barcelona’s penalty shoot-out win over Real Betis on Thursday night. The teams couldn’t be separated over 90 minutes – it was 1-1. Then they scored one each in the added 30 minutes, but ultimately they needed penalties.Robert Lewandowski scored five minutes before the break to give Xavi’s side the lead against an inspired green-and-white opponent.Barca were lucky to be in the position to take the lead in the first place, as Argentinean defender German Pezzella directed a header that was somehow kept out by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. But Betis’ pressure paid off with 77 minutes on the clock. Luiz Henrique sold a great dummy to Jules Kounde and laid the ball off nicely for Fekir to slam into the net and give his team deserved parity.Lewandowski thought he’d restored Barca’s lead shortly, but the officials spotted that Ferran Torres was offside in the build-up.Rodri Sanchez had a chance to win the game for Betis with five minutes to go, but Ter Stegen dived low to keep Barca in the game.And it really could have gone either way. Substitute Ansu Fati escaped defenders and had a one-on-one with Claudio Bravo. Still, the 39-year-old former Manchester City goalie managed to keep it out as the 90 minutes ended in a stalemate.Ansu Fati made it up for his missed opportunity in extra time with a terrific first-time effort from the edge of the box, but that goal, too, was cancelled out by an intelligent backheeled goal from Loren Moron. Ter Stegen was the hero in the shoot-out as he kept out kicks from Juanmi and William Carvalho. For Barca, Lewandowski, Kessie, Fati and Pedri were all on target to scrape past the Andalucian side and set up another El Clasico on Sunday.SPANISH SUPER CUPSemi-finalWednesdayReal Madrid – Valencia 1-1 (1-1, 1-0) (4-3 AP)/Benzema 39 pen – Lino 46/ThursdayBetis – Barcelona 2-2 (1-1, 0-1) (4-2 AP)/Lewandowski 40, Fati 93 – Fekir 77, Moron 101/
