FC Barcelona reached the final of the Spanish Super Cup with a goal demonstration. The defending champion and record winner defeated Athletic Bilbao 5-0 (4-0) in the semi-finals. The final opponent will be determined this Thursday in the city duel between Atlético and Real Madrid.
Even without striker Robert Lewandowski and Spain’s super teenager Lamine Yamal in the starting line-up, coach Hansi Flick’s team dismantled the team from Bilbao in the first half.
Flick clenches his fists and laughs
Ferran Torres (22nd minute), Fermin (30th), Roony Bardghji (34th) and Raphina (38th) ensured the preliminary decision in favor of the Catalans in less than 20 minutes in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the competition will also be held this year. When the third goal was scored, Flick clenched his fists on the sidelines, laughed and clapped. After the break, Raphina (52nd) ensured the final score.
Barcelona’s German national goalkeeper was no longer in Jeddah. Marc-André ter Stegen had to leave injured the day before the game. Sports director Deco gave the all-clear to broadcaster Movistar. Ter Stegen is doing well, it’s nothing serious.
The national goalkeeper had just returned after a long injury break and made his comeback in the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey). Ter Stegen needs match practice to be in the German goal at the World Cup. There is talk of a winter move, most recently a loan deal to league rivals FC Girona in the area around Barcelona.
Real Madrid will face Atlético in the second semi-final on Thursday. Last year, Los Blancos lost the final against Barca 2-5. The Supercopa finals have been held regularly abroad since 2018 – this year’s final is the fifth in a row to be played in Saudi Arabia.
