Barcelona Routs Athletic Bilbao 5-0 to Reach Spanish Super Cup Final

Barcelona dominate semifinal in Jeddah

Barcelona powered into the Spanish Super Cup final with a 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, with Raphinha scoring twice in a one-sided semifinal played in Saudi Arabia. The match took place at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah, where Hansi Flick’s side overwhelmed their Basque rivals by scoring four times in the first half.

Barcelona’s intensity and efficiency were reflected in the scoreline long before the match reached its later stages. While Athletic struggled to find answers, Barcelona repeatedly turned possession and pressure into clear chances, building a lead that effectively decided the contest before halftime.

Four first-half goals set the tone

The scoring began in the 23rd minute when Ferran Torres finished off a move after swatting in a missed shot by Fermin Lopez. That opener was quickly followed by a second goal seven minutes later. In the 30th minute, Fermín curled in a pass from Raphinha to make it 2-0.

Barcelona continued to surge forward, and the third arrived just four minutes after the second. Roony Bardghji drove a strike under Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simón in the 34th minute, extending the lead and underlining Barcelona’s control of the game.

Raphinha then added his first of the night in the 38th minute, producing a blistering strike that beat Simón and pushed Barcelona into a commanding 4-0 advantage before the interval. With four goals in the opening 45 minutes, Barcelona had already placed one foot in the final.

Raphinha completes his brace after the break

Barcelona did not ease off after halftime. Raphinha rounded off the scoring in the 52nd minute, completing his brace and sealing a 5-0 result that left Athletic with little room for consolation.

After the match, Raphinha emphasized the team’s approach and mindset. “We made the game look easy. When we are playing well the game becomes easier to play,” he said. “We are focused on ourselves and ready to play whoever wins the other semifinal.”

Key moments and match details

• 23rd minute: Ferran Torres opened the scoring after a missed shot by Fermin Lopez.
• 30th minute: Fermín finished a pass from Raphinha to make it 2-0.
• 34th minute: Roony Bardghji struck under Unai Simón for Barcelona’s third.
• 38th minute: Raphinha scored with a blistering strike to extend the lead to 4-0.
• 52nd minute: Raphinha scored again to complete the 5-0 win.

Team selection notes: Yamal and Nico Williams

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal watched the first part of the match from the bench as Flick’s team built its early advantage. Yamal later came on as a late substitute, and the timing of his appearance suggests he should be fresh for Sunday’s final.

On the Athletic side, Spain forward Nico Williams remained on the bench for the entire match. Williams has been dealing with a groin strain this season, and he was not used as Athletic attempted to respond to Barcelona’s early burst of goals.

Simón reflects on a difficult night

For Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simón, the match was a painful one. Barcelona’s finishing and volume of chances left Athletic exposed, particularly in the first half, when the contest quickly slipped away.

Simón did not single out any individual as responsible for the heavy defeat. “This is a tough loss,” he said. “When you concede five goals you can’t point to any single player. It means the entire team didn’t play well.”

Raphinha’s form and impact

Raphinha’s two goals were central to the semifinal rout, and his performance also highlighted his return to form after an injury setback earlier in the season. He missed six weeks due to injury but has been playing in the same fine form as last season since returning in early December.

His importance to Barcelona has been evident not only in his scoring, but also in his leadership. The forward’s goals and influence were described as crucial to Barcelona’s success last campaign, when the club won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

Looking ahead to the final

Barcelona will now prepare for Sunday’s final, where they will face the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. With the semifinal decided early, Barcelona were able to manage minutes for key players, including giving Yamal a late run-out rather than starting him.

In the broader domestic picture, Barcelona is currently leading La Liga. Athletic, meanwhile, sits eighth and is vying for a European berth. The Super Cup result adds a decisive chapter to their meeting, with Barcelona advancing in emphatic fashion and Athletic left to regroup after a night in which Barcelona’s first-half surge proved overwhelming.