Barcelona defeated Athletic without Olmo and reached the final of the Spanish Super Cup | Football news
Barcelona reached the final of the Spanish Super Cup with a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao in Saudi Arabia.
Young starlets Gavi and Lamine Yamal fired Barcelona, without Dani Olmo after his playing license was revoked, into the Spanish Super Cup final with with a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao.
Spanish playmaker Olmo was allowed to play again on a provisional basis ahead of Wednesday’s game, but the decision came too late for him or Pau Victor, in the same position, to play against Copa del Rey winners Athletico.
Gavi put Barcelona ahead from close range after 17 minutes and teenage winger Yamal hit the second goal early after the break.
Spanish and European champion Real Madrid will meet runner-up Mallorca in the second semi-final on Thursday.
“We don’t care [who we face in the final]. It will be difficult and we want to win, most importantly, and come home with the trophy.” Yamal told Movistar after the game.
Barcelona, who qualified as LaLiga runners-up, got off to a flying start, Raphinh volleying in after a good cross from Jules Kounde and forcing Unai Simon into a good free-kick save.
It was no surprise when the Catalans broke the deadlock when Alejandro Balde cut the ball to Gavi, playing in Olmo’s attacking midfield role, and headed home.
The 20-year-old pointed to an imaginary watch in his celebration, giving a nod to Olma, who regularly makes the same gesture after scoring.
At the other end, Inaki Williams struggled with the ball for too long before Athletic’s best attacking move in the first half broke down.
Yamal, 17, should have added Barcelona’s second after Raphinha’s shot was saved, but he missed the lob.
Wojciech Szczesny, in his second start in goal for Barcelona, made a good save to keep out Inaki Williams before the break.
Barcelona doubled their lead early in the second half when Gavi slipped in Yamala who finished with aplomb.
“Athletic is a very physical team that makes you run a lot. We suffered above all towards the end, but we were able to play well and we are very happy,” added Yamal.
Veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski spurned a good chance to add a third, firing wide when well placed.
Athletico coach Ernesto Valverde, who was sacked as Barcelona boss after the defeat at the same stadium in 2020, brought in Nic Williams to try and turn the game around.
The Spanish representative, who was heavily linked with Barcelona this summer, was not ready enough to start, but had a positive effect from the bench.
The winger set up Oscar de Marcos to score, but the Athletico defender strayed offside and the goal was ruled out.
Inaki Williams also had a goal ruled out for offside after Frenkie de Jong’s poor back pass easily deflected Alvaro Djala on his way to the Ghana international.
Barcelona secured the victory and the opponent awaits in Sunday’s final, in which Olmo will also be able to perform.
