Barcelona hammered Athletic Club 5-0 in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to reach the Spanish Super Cup final.
Goals from Ferran Torres, Fermin Lopez, Roony Bardghji and Raphinha within the space of 17 minutes in the first half quickly turned the semi-final into a non-event. Raphinha sealed a five-star performance with his second goal in the second half, as Barcelona prepare to face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the final on Sunday.
Man of the match Raphinha refused to accept the game was not much of a test for his side. “If it was an easy game, it was because we made it that way,” Raphinha told the media after the match. “When we are on form, games can become easier. It’s never easy to play against Athletic. They have a lot of quality and players that can turn a game. Whether it’s easy or difficult, it’s down to how we play.”
Bilbao certainly started on the front foot and for 20 minutes the tie hung in the balance, but Torres tipped things in Barcelona’s favour when he pounced on a loose ball and converted from 12 yards. The avalanche soon started rolling. Raphinha combined with Pedri on the left and pulled back for Lopez to finish emphatically into the top corner.
The audacious and skilful Bardghji, playing in Yamal’s stead on the right, turned his full back inside out before striking a low shot on goal. It should have been kept out by Unai Simon, but somehow the Spaniard allowed the ball to creep under him and enter the net. Raphinha’s effort from the left four minutes later was much more difficult to catch. Feinting past his man, the Brazilian leathered a shot into the top corner at the near post.
It was over by half time. Oihan Sancet struck the post before the break in a rare foray forward, but in fact the only concern heading into the second half from an Athletic Club perspective was whether they would ship in more goals. Raphinha confirmed that when he bagged his double six minutes after the break, pouncing on Lopez’s deflected cross to finish emphatically from eight yards. There was at least some effort on Athletic’s part to get a consolation late on, but even that proved nought.
