Barcelona delivered a dominant performance in Saudi Arabia, crushing Athletic Club 5-0 in the Supercopa de España semifinals on Wednesday. The emphatic victory sent the defending champions through to the final, where they will await the winner of the Madrid derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona’s Devastating Opening
The Blaugrana wasted no time establishing their superiority, scoring three goals within the first 30 minutes. Ferran Torres opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Athletic’s defense failed to clear a dangerous situation in the penalty area. Fermín Lopez doubled the advantage just eight minutes later with a well-composed finish from a slick passing move. Roony Bardghji added the third in the 34th minute with a powerful strike that goalkeeper Unai Simon could only weakly parry.
Raphinha’s Masterclass Performance
Brazilian winger Raphinha emerged as the star of the evening, scoring twice and providing an assist to epitomize Barcelona’s attacking prowess. The winger netted his first goal before halftime with a powerful strike at the near post, extending Barcelona’s commanding 4-0 advantage. After the interval, Raphinha completed his brace by the 52nd minute with a remarkable finish that sealed the 5-0 rout. His all-around display showcased Barcelona’s attacking dominance under Hansi Flick’s tactical direction and reinforced their status as La Liga’s elite force.