Barcelona sent an emphatic message to Spanish football on Wednesday evening. Five goals. Zero conceded. Athletic Club dismantled without their talisman Lamine Yamal even starting. The holders are ready to defend their Super Cup crown.
The semi-final in Jeddah began cautiously, with Athletic pressing high and both sides feeling each other out. Then Hansi Flick's men found their rhythm, and within sixteen devastating minutes, the contest was effectively over.
Ferran Torres opened the floodgates in the 22nd minute, scuffing home after Fermín López's initial shot was parried by Unai Simón. It was scrappy, imperfect, but it broke Athletic's resistance. Eight minutes later, Raphinha cut the ball back for López, who thumped a ferocious strike into the net. Two-nil.
The third arrived in the 34th minute — Roony Bardghji cutting in from the right, his low shot squeezing underneath Simón's arm. The goalkeeper will want that one back. And before Athletic could catch their breath, Raphinha made it four, capitalising on a defensive miscommunication to stroke home just before half-time.
Four goals in 16 minutes. The first time any team has scored four first-half goals against Athletic in the Spanish Super Cup. Ruthless doesn't begin to describe it.
"I think if it was an easy game, it was because we made it that way," Raphinha said afterwards. "When we are on form, games can become easier. It's never easy to play against Athletic. They have a lot of quality."
The Brazilian winger completed his brace seven minutes into the second half, pouncing on a loose ball after Athletic failed to clear a cross into the box. His performance throughout was exceptional — two goals, an assist, and constant menace down the left flank.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect was who watched from the bench. Yamal, the 18-year-old wonderkid who has tormented defences across Europe this season, was rested. Robert Lewandowski, too. Flick's squad depth is such that he could afford to keep his biggest names fresh for Sunday's final.
"Against Espanyol we didn't play so good, and today we saw a totally different mentality, attitude, how we played as a team," the German coach noted. "In defence and also offence, it's good to see."
Barcelona's winning run now stretches to nine matches. Their fifth consecutive clean sheet. The defensive solidity that eluded them for much of last season appears to have been resolved, with Joan García commanding his area with growing authority.
They will face either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid in Sunday's final — the Madrid derby takes place on Thursday. Either opponent will pose a sterner test than Athletic managed, but on this form, Barcelona will fear nobody.
Ernesto Valverde's side never recovered from that first-half onslaught. The Basque club made substitutions, shifted shape, tried to stem the tide. Nothing worked. By the final whistle, they had mustered just one shot on target all evening.
This is Barcelona at their imperious best. Fast. Fluid. Unforgiving. The Super Cup is within touching distance, and if Yamal and Lewandowski return to the starting XI on Sunday, pity whoever stands in their way.
