On 8th January 2025, FC Barcelona and Athletic Club of Bilbao went head to head in the 1st semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup which was held at King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The match ended with a score of 2-0 in favor of Barcelona which helped them reach the finals while displaying deep tactical and managerial skills by Hansi Flick. This game not only showcased the individual strengths of the teams but also catered as a build up for an intense end of the tournament.
Barcelona takes early lead against Athletic Club in Spanish Super Cup Semi-Final
The match started at an electrifying pace as both the teams were quick to display aggressiveness in thier approach in the starting minutes. Guided by Raphinha, Barcelona was super motivated as they quickly went on the offense trying to create multiple goal scoring opportunities. Raphinha made good use of the attacking position with his blistering pace allowing him to dribble around the people and go through the defense.
But it was who Gavi scored the opening goal in the 17th minute. This came after Pedri and Alejandro Balde assisted Gavi to get just outside the six yard box. In doing so, Gavi kicked the ball through the legs of Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon as Barcelona supporters erupted with glee. For Gavi, this is one of the most crucial goals because it displays his raw talent after a long injury lay off.
Determined to restore parity, Athletic Club set about with their search for the goal. Right before the match reached the interval, Inaki Williams almost got the equalizer, but it was Szczesny who was key for Arsenal in hitting crucial stops in the initial stages of the match. But, strive as they did, the team had to settle for going into the break a goal down, 1-0.
Athletic Club’s frustration as VAR denies comeback
Barcelona then looked to extend their narrow lead, as the second period began. For the rest of the match they modified their strategy as the score was resolved in the 52nd minute. After receiving a precise pass from Gavi, Yamal scored one, snatching the ball from Simon. The score was therefore 2-0 – in favor of Barcelona. The goal was enough to demonstrate Yamal’s exceptional skill and also revealed that he is building a great partnership with Gavi. Their great understanding has been instrumental to Barcelona’s offense this season.
Insisting on dominating the ball in the second half, Athletic Club managed to create several opportunities to score much to Barcelona’s dismay. Even after being two goals down, they kept pushing forward and playing aggressively. But unfortunately, they were unable to do much against Szczesny and the backline who were defensive throughout the match.
Athletic looked to have a bit of the luck there, when Williams scored another goal, however that was short lived as the goal was chopped due to VAR and Williams being offside. This moment frustrated the fans as they pondered over the question of how much effort they needed to sync to tear the solid Barcelona defense down.
Tactical Analysis
Barcelona was able to maintain their composure and controlled the match for extended periods of time. They were also able to move from the defensive to offense seamlessly on many occasions. Their control of the midfield by Gavi, Pedri, and Frenkie de Jong was unmatched and required a lot of effort. Gavi showed a great improvement in him as he was able to combine really well with the forwards Raphinha and Yamal. The defensive unit performed well for Barcelona, especially Szczesny who made some crucial saves which eased the pressure on his fellow teammates. The communication within the back-four was effective as they managed to contain the offensive capabilities of the opposing side.
Athletic Club showed true grit in their performance on the night, starting from their high pressing tactics to look for possible gaps in the Barcelona defense. The only flaw in their plan was the inability to finish off chances which proved to be costly in the long run.
Looking Ahead
Thanks to this victory, Barcelona proceeds to the finals where they will face either Real Madrid or Mallorca on January 11, 2025. This win acts as a huge moral boost for Flick’s side with the number of trophies they aim to win this season. For Athletic Club there are takeaways from this match as they look to prepare for their important encounter with CA Osasuna in the Copa del Rey. They did show some good moments and determination in patches but if they plan on competing further, they will need to work on their lack of finishing.
