Barcelona Crush Athletic Bilbao 5-0 to Reach Spanish Super Cup Final
Kathmandu: FC Barcelona put on a football masterclass on Wednesday night, defeating Athletic Bilbao 5-0 in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup.
The match, held at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium, saw Barcelona dominate from start to finish in front of a massive crowd of over 50,000 fans.
The victory ensures Barcelona’s place in the final, as they look to bring silverware back to Catalonia in 2026.
A First-Half Goal Blitz
The game was effectively decided in a frantic 16-minute window during the first half. Barcelona’s attack was too fast and too organized for the Athletic Bilbao defense to handle.
The scoring opened in the 22nd minute when Ferran Torres found the back of the net after a clever pass from Fermín López. This goal settled any early nerves and opened the floodgates for the Blaugrana.
In the 30th minute, Fermín López turned from playmaker to goalscorer. After receiving a pass from Raphinha, López doubled the lead with a composed finish. Just four minutes later, the young talent Roony Bardghji made it 3-0, assisted once again by the clinical Fermín López.
Before Athletic Bilbao could even catch their breath, Barcelona struck a fourth time. In the 38th minute, Raphinha scored his first goal of the night following a brilliant setup by Bardghji. The teams went into the halftime break with Barcelona leading 4-0, leaving the Bilbao players in shock.
Raphinha Seals the Dominance
The second half began much like the first. In the 52nd minute, Raphinha scored his second goal of the match, bringing the final score to 5-0. The assist came from Roony Bardghji, marking a fantastic night for the young attacker who finished the game with a goal and two assists.
For the remainder of the match, Barcelona focused on controlling the tempo. With the game safely won, the pace slowed down, but Barcelona’s technical superiority remained obvious until the final whistle from referee Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos.
By The Numbers: Total Control
The statistics from the match tell the story of a complete mismatch:
• Possession: Barcelona held a staggering 80% of the ball, leaving Athletic Bilbao chasing shadows for most of the night.
• Efficiency: While Barcelona had 13 total shots, they were incredibly clinical. Out of 7 shots on target, 5 resulted in goals.
• Defense: Despite Athletic Bilbao managing 9 shots, Barcelona’s defense stayed firm, keeping a clean sheet.
Looking Ahead
Athletic Bilbao will be disappointed with the result, especially after managing only 20% possession. Despite creating a few chances, they were unable to beat the Barcelona defense.
Barcelona now moves on to the Spanish Super Cup Final with immense confidence. If they continue to play with this level of speed and precision, they will be very difficult to beat in the championship match.
Match Summary:
• Date: Wednesday, 7 January 2026
• Venue: King Abdullah Sports City
• Attendance: 50,141
• Final Score: FC Barcelona 5 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
• Man of the Match: Raphinha (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
