Athletic Club 0-2 Barcelona: Gavi and Lamine Yamal Send Blaugrana to Supercopa Final

Barcelona secured their place in the 2025 Supercopa de España final with a commanding 2-0 victory over Athletic Club in the semi-finals held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Goals from Gavi and Lamine Yamal proved decisive, while two late strikes from Athletic were disallowed for offside.

Match Recap

First Half:
Barcelona started brightly, and it didn’t take long for them to break the deadlock. In the 13th minute, Alejandro Balde delivered a precise cutback for Gavi, who calmly slotted the ball past Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simón.

While Athletic Club tried to respond, their attacking efforts were limited by Barcelona’s organized defense. Barcelona had chances to extend their lead but couldn’t capitalize before halftime.

Second Half:
The Catalans doubled their lead early in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Gavi turned provider, setting up Lamine Yamal with a clever pass. The teenager controlled the ball expertly before firing it past Simón at the near post.

Athletic Club pushed for a comeback and thought they had pulled one back twice late in the game. Substitute Oscar de Marcos and captain Iñaki Williams both found the net, but VAR ruled both goals out for offside.

Barcelona managed the game well in the closing stages to secure their spot in the final, where they will face either Real Madrid or Mallorca.

Player Ratings

Athletic Club (4-2-3-1)

• GK: Unai Simón – 7.4/10
  Made several crucial saves to keep Athletic in the game.
• RB: Iñigo Lekue – 5.6/10
  Struggled defensively and was substituted early in the second half.
• CB: Daniel Vivian – 6.8/10
  Solid in defense but couldn’t prevent Barcelona’s fluid attack.
• CB: Aitor Paredes – 5.0/10
  Looked shaky and was often out of position.
• LB: Yuri Berchiche – 7.1/10
  Worked hard on both ends of the pitch, providing width in attack.
• CM: Beñat Prados – 6.4/10
  Decent in possession but lacked impact in the final third.
• CM: Mikel Jauregizar – 6.4/10
  Showed energy but struggled against Barcelona’s midfield.
• RM: Iñaki Williams (c) – 6.4/10
  Had moments of brilliance but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
• AM: Unai Gómez – 6.2/10
  Struggled to influence the game in an advanced role.
• LM: Álex Berenguer – 6.5/10
  Showed flashes of creativity but lacked consistency.
• ST: Gorka Guruzeta – 6.2/10
  Isolated for much of the match and had limited chances.

Barcelona (4-2-3-1)

• GK: Wojciech Szczęsny – 8.8/10 (Player of the Match)
  Commanding performance, including key saves to deny Athletic late on.
• RB: Jules Koundé – 7.5/10
  Strong defensively and contributed to the attack when needed.
• CB: Pau Cubarsí – 7.4/10
  Calm and composed, an excellent showing from the young defender.
• CB: Íñigo Martínez – 6.9/10
  Solid against his former club but wasn’t heavily tested.
• LB: Alejandro Balde – 8.2/10
  Assisted Gavi’s opener and was a constant threat down the left flank.
• CM: Marc Casadó – 7.7/10
  Controlled the midfield and broke up Athletic’s attacks effectively.
• CM: Pedri – 7.6/10
  Showed his usual class and dictated the tempo of the game.
• RM: Lamine Yamal – 8.3/10
  Scored a superb goal and looked dangerous throughout.
• AM: Gavi – 8.5/10
  Scored the opener, assisted the second, and worked tirelessly.
• LM: Raphinha (c) – 7.6/10
  Led by example, creating chances and pressing high up the pitch.
• ST: Robert Lewandowski – 6.2/10
  Quiet performance and struggled to get involved.

Key Talking Points

1. Barcelona’s Young Stars Shine

Both Gavi and Lamine Yamal played pivotal roles in the victory. Gavi’s energy and creativity were on full display, while Yamal’s goal showcased his composure and technical skill at just 16 years old.

2. Wojciech Szczęsny’s Commanding Display

The veteran goalkeeper proved crucial for Barcelona, making several important saves to preserve the clean sheet. His leadership at the back was vital in a high-stakes game.

3. Athletic Club’s Misfortune

Athletic fought hard and came close to turning the game around late on, but two disallowed goals for offside dashed their hopes.

What’s Next?

• Barcelona: The Blaugrana will face either Real Madrid or Mallorca in Sunday’s Supercopa de España final.
• Athletic Club: Focus shifts back to La Liga as they aim to improve their domestic form.

FAQs

1. Who scored for Barcelona?
Gavi and Lamine Yamal scored for Barcelona in their 2-0 victory.

2. Who will Barcelona face in the final?
Barcelona will face the winner of the Real Madrid vs. Mallorca semi-final.

3. What was the Player of the Match performance?
Wojciech Szczęsny delivered a standout performance, making key saves to secure the clean sheet.

4. Why were Athletic Club’s goals disallowed?
Both goals were ruled out for offside following VAR reviews.

5. How did Barcelona perform overall?
Barcelona delivered a solid performance, with strong contributions from their young players and a composed defensive effort.