FC Barcelona cruised into the final of the Spanish Super Cup with a comfortable 5-0 win over Athletic Club in a game that was effectively over by half-time.
It will be Barca’s fourth consecutive Super Cup final and their 28th overall, figures that further underline their dominance in the competition, which they have won more than any other club (15 titles).
Athletic captain Inaki Williams had criticised the decision to stage the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in the build-up to the game, and after a bright opening 10 minutes, his side appeared to lose focus, offering very little resistance to Barcelona’s flowing attacking football.
Unai Simon had already saved a shot from Fermin Lopez when Ferran Torres opened the scoring with a bouncing effort from inside the area, reports Xinhua.
Athletic had a reasonable claim that the opening goal came after a foul against them, with winger Alex Berenguer appearing to win the ball cleanly, but they had no answer to the avalanche of goals that followed.
Fermin Lopez doubled Barcelona’s lead in the 30th minute after slotting home from an excellent cross by Raphinha, and two minutes later he set up Roony Bardghji to make it 3-0 with another fine assist.
Roony then provided the assist for Raphinha to score his first of the night with a powerful shot in the 38th minute, and the pair combined again seven minutes after the break for Barcelona’s fifth goal.
Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde made all five substitutions before the hour mark, while Hansi Flick brought on Marcus Rashford, Marc Bernal, Gerard Martin and Lamine Yamal for Barcelona.
The urgency went out of the game thereafter, with Unai Gomez missing a good chance for Athletic, as Barcelona began to look ahead to Sunday’s final against either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid, who meet in the second semifinal on Thursday.
(IANS)
