Goal scorers: Torres 22', Lopez 30', Bardghji 34', Raphinha 38', 52'

Barca delivered a dominant performance against Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final on the evening of 7/1, securing a resounding 5-0 victory and a place in the final. Despite Lamine Yamal starting on the bench due to a minor injury, Barca's attack proved relentless. Bilbao, currently eighth in La Liga, struggled to contain their opponents, suffering an even larger defeat than their 0-4 loss in 11/2025.

Barca quickly opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. An opposing defender managed to block Fermin Lopez's initial shot, but could not prevent Ferran Torres from scoring the rebound from 6 meters past goalkeeper Unai Simon. This early goal set the tone for the match, with Barca continuing to press their advantage.

Fermin Lopez celebrates a goal in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, Barca 5-0 Bilbao in Saudi Arabia on the evening of 7/1. Photo: Reuters

After the first goal, Barca continued to attack relentlessly. The red and blue striped players consistently delivered fast balls from both wings, then shifted attacks to the center, dribbled past defenders, or sent low crosses into the box. In the 30th minute, the match was effectively decided when Raphinha's low cross allowed Lopez to shoot into the top corner, doubling the lead. Four minutes later, Roony Bardghji, who started in place of Yamal, dribbled past the full-back and then shot past the goalkeeper, extending the lead to 3-0.

The early goal-scoring spree did not diminish Barca's focus. The team, which won the domestic treble last season, maintained 80% possession and relentlessly bombarded Bilbao's goal. In the 38th minute, Raphinha scored a spectacular goal, breaking through from the left wing, dribbling past a defender, and then shooting into the near corner to make it 4-0.

Bilbao did manage some sharp attacking moves. However, their finishing was poor, including a shot by Oihan Sancet that hit the post, preventing them from finding a breakthrough.

Barca continued to press Bilbao after halftime. In the 52nd minute, capitalizing on a scramble in the penalty area, Raphinha scored with a low shot to seal the 5-0 victory. The Brazilian forward completed an outstanding performance with two goals and one assist, solidifying his impact on the match.

Raphinha (right) made the biggest contribution in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, Barca 5-0 Bilbao in Saudi Arabia on the evening of 7/1. Photo: Reuters

After securing the victory, coach Flick immediately made substitutions, bringing on Yamal, Marcus Rashford, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, and Gerard Martin. However, these players focused on conserving energy for the upcoming final, so they did not create any further significant chances.

The second semi-final between Real and Atletico will take place on the evening of 8/1, with the final scheduled three days later. All Spanish Super Cup matches are being held at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Last year, also at this venue, Barca defeated Bilbao 2-0 in the semi-final and Real 5-2 in the final, indicating their strong history in the competition at this location.

Thanh Quy