Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona cruised into the Spanish Super Cup final after a commanding 5-0 semi-final victory over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night in Saudi Arabia.
The holders and record 15-time winners now await either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid, who clash on Thursday, ahead of Sunday’s final showdown.
Despite starting teenage sensation Lamine Yamal on the bench, Barcelona showed no signs of slowing down at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. Hansi Flick’s side delivered a ruthless display, extending their winning run to nine matches across all competitions, while Athletic Bilbao, struggling through a difficult campaign, were comprehensively dismantled.
Barcelona, who currently sit top of La Liga, controlled proceedings from the outset and were rewarded after 22 minutes when Ferran Torres opened the scoring. His goal came with a slice of luck as Fermin Lopez’s mis-hit effort fell kindly into his path, allowing Torres to bundle the ball home.
The Catalans raised the tempo immediately after, slicing through Athletic’s defence with a slick move that led to the second goal. Raphinha cut the ball back intelligently for Lopez, who thundered a shot into the top corner, marking the start of a devastating spell that saw Barcelona score three times in just eight minutes.
The third goal arrived courtesy of Swedish winger Roony Bardghji, whose low effort was inexplicably mishandled by Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon, the ball slipping under his body and into the net.
The error will likely raise questions for Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, with Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia continuing to push for national team consideration ahead of the World Cup, although the Euro 2024-winning manager was absent due to illness.
Barcelona’s relentless attacking continued, and Raphinha added his first of the night with a fierce strike into the top left corner after 38 minutes, effectively putting the contest beyond doubt before half-time.
Athletic Bilbao’s misery deepened as their rare attacking moments failed to produce a breakthrough. Oihan Sancet came closest when he struck the post, but it was a brief respite on an otherwise painful evening for the Basque side, who last lifted the trophy in 2021.
Raphinha completed his brace shortly after the restart, applying a clinical close-range finish to make it 5-0 and seal a dominant performance.
The Brazilian’s display underlined Barcelona’s attacking depth and reinforced Flick’s belief that the Spanish Super Cup can once again serve as a springboard for further silverware, just as it did last season when the club went on to claim both La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
What you should know
Barcelona’s emphatic win highlights their strong form under Hansi Flick, with the team showing confidence, depth and attacking fluidity ahead of a potentially decisive clash in the final.
Raphinha’s two goals underlined his growing importance in the squad, while the result exposed Athletic Bilbao’s defensive frailties.
With either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid waiting, Barcelona will head into the final full of belief as they chase their first trophy of the season and aim to maintain momentum across competitions.
