Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in the Spanish Super Cup semifinals on January 8, 2025, at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Goals by Gavi and Lamine Yamal sent the Catalan club to the final, where they will meet the winner of the Real Madrid-Mallorca encounter.
Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor’s playing licenses were canceled owing to registration concerns, causing their absence throughout the match. However, immediately before the game, Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD) approved a provisional suspension of the license cancellation, allowing both players to remain provisionally registered. Unfortunately, the decision arrived too late for them to compete in the semi-finals.
Barcelona dominated the encounter, with Gavi scoring in the 17th minute from a perfect cut-back from Alejandro Balde. Lamine Yamal, recovering from an ankle illness, doubled the lead in the 52nd minute, demonstrating his finishing ability. citeturn0search6 Athletic Bilbao had several opportunities to respond, including two offside scores, but were unable to break through Barcelona’s defense.
The triumph demonstrates Barcelona’s tenacity in the face of administrative problems and injuries. The preliminary reinstatement of Olmo and Víctor’s licenses is a positive development, pending a final decision by the CSD. As Barcelona prepares for the Super Cup final, the inclusion of these players could increase the squad’s strength.
Athletic Bilbao, despite the loss, is confident about the rest of the season. Forward Iñaki Williams stressed the team’s attention on upcoming competitions, including as La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Europa League.
The Spanish Super Cup final is set for Sunday, January 12, 2025, at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. Barcelona want to win the championship, and their opponent will be chosen following the Real Madrid vs. Mallorca semi-final.