Barcelona Dominates Athletic Club to Secure Spanish Super Cup Final Spot
Holders Barcelona delivered a stunning performance against Athletic Club, securing their place in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
The 15-time champions showcased their dominance by scoring four goals within a remarkable 16-minute span, effectively sealing the game by half-time.
This achievement made Barcelona the first team in history to net four first-half goals in a Spanish Super Cup semi-final.
Ferran Torres ignited the scoring in the 22nd minute with a close-range finish, followed by Fermin Lopez, who struck a powerful shot into the top corner.
Roony Bardghji's fierce effort slipped under the hands of Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon, and Raphinha capped off the first-half scoring by driving a shot into the roof of the net, extending Barcelona's lead to an insurmountable 4-0 by the 38th minute.
Raphinha added his second goal just four minutes into the second half, making it 5-0 with Simon unable to respond.
Barcelona maintained control throughout the match, marking their ninth consecutive victory across all competitions. They will now face either Atletico Madrid or 13-time winners Real Madrid in the final, which is set for Sunday in Jeddah. The two teams will meet on Thursday at 19:00 GMT.
This year's final comes after Saudi Arabia and the Spanish Football Federation extended their agreement to host the tournament in the country until 2029.