FC Barcelona storms into the Spanish Super Cup final with a ruthless 5-0 thrashing of Athletic Club in the semi-final.
Under Hansi Flick’s guidance, a largely rotated Barcelona team put on a stellar show, led by Raphinha, who netted twice and set up another goal.
Ferran Torres, Fermín López, and Roony Bardghji each scored as well, fueling a thoroughly impressive attacking outing.
The side bossed possession, fashioned a host of opportunities, and held firm defensively for a shutout, totally overpowering an underwhelming Athletic Club throughout.
This decisive triumph demonstrates Barcelona’s impressive squad strength and strong current form, paving the way for a highly anticipated final.
Here are the 5 things we learned:
1. Clinical and ruthless attacking play:
Barcelona were absolutely lethal in the final third. Every chance created was finished with conviction and precision.
The forwards combined sharpness with composure, punishing any defensive lapse instantly.
Transitions were explosive, with quick vertical passes slicing through Bilbao’s lines, turning possession into goals with ruthless efficiency.
2. Complete midfield control and dominance:
The midfield trio ran the game from start to finish. They dictated tempo, won second balls aggressively, and recycled possession with intelligence and calm authority.
Bilbao were suffocated in the middle, unable to build attacks or find rhythm. Barcelona’s midfielders not only shielded the defense superbly but also initiated attacks with progressive passing, acting as the engine that powered the entire performance.
3. Fluid positional rotations and movement:
One of the standout features was the constant interchanging of positions.
Players rotated seamlessly – wingers drifting inside, full-backs inverting, midfielders popping up in pockets, and even center-backs stepping into midfield.
This fluidity created overloads, confused markers, and opened spaces that Bilbao simply couldn’t track. The understanding between players was exceptional, making the attack unpredictable and extremely difficult to defend against.
4. Constant wide threats stretching the opposition:
The wings were a constant source of danger. Both wingers and overlapping full-backs provided genuine width, pinning Bilbao’s defenders back and stretching their compact shape.
Dangerous crosses, cut-backs, and one-on-one situations were created repeatedly. This wide dominance not only delivered direct goal threats but also pulled defenders out of position, creating central gaps that were exploited brilliantly.
5. Rock-solid defensive structure with proactive transitions:
Despite the attacking brilliance, the defensive performance was equally impressive. The backline stayed compact, organized, and aggressive in pressing triggers.
Bilbao’s usually dangerous counter-attacks and set-pieces were neutralized comfortably.
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