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Barcelona advanced to the 2025 Spanish Super Cup final with a determined 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Although not at their dazzling best, the Catalans delivered a composed performance to overcome the reigning Copa del Rey champions.
The Blaugrana began the game strongly, pressing high and forcing errors from Athletic’s defense. Early chances came quickly, with Raphinha narrowly missing two opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.
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Their relentless start paid off in the 17th minute, as a brilliant passing move on the left flank ended with Alejandro Balde assisting Gavi, who finished superbly to give Barcelona the lead.
Riding on their momentum, Barcelona almost doubled the score when Lamine Yamal intercepted the ball. The Spanish youngster thereafter set up Raphinha, only for Unai Simón to deny the Brazilian. However, as the half progressed, Athletic Bilbao grew into the contest. Dangerous crosses and a chance for Iñaki Williams before halftime tested Barcelona’s defense, but Wojciech Szczesny stood firm.
Yamal’s goal rounds off crucial win
The second half saw Barcelona extend their lead just eight minutes after the restart. Iñigo Martínez regained possession in midfield, and Gavi’s pinpoint pass found Yamal, who calmly slotted past Simón to make it 2-0.
With nothing to lose, Athletic’s manager Ernesto Valverde introduced attacking changes, pushing for a way back. Despite a barrage of long balls and crosses, Szczesny was rarely troubled, comfortably handling any threat.
Drama unfolded in the final stages as Athletic found the net twice, but both goals were ruled out for offside. Óscar de Marcos and Iñaki Williams were denied their moments of glory, leaving Barcelona’s two-goal lead intact.
The final whistle confirmed Barcelona’s progression to the title match, where they will face either Real Madrid or Mallorca. With the first trophy of the season at stake, we await who Barcelona will trade tackles with in the finale.
Tags: Barcelona, 2025 Spanish Super Cup, Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid, Mallorca, Iñigo Martínez, Óscar de Marcos, Iñaki Williams, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Unai Simón, Wojciech Szczesny, Alejandro Balde, Raphinha, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnews, #nrtcnigeria, #nrtcsports, #NewsRoundTheClock.
