Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Barcelona reached the final of the Spanish Super Cup with a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao in Saudi Arabia.
Young starlets Gavi and Lamine Yamal fired Barcelona, without Dani Olmo after his playing license was revoked, into the Spanish Super Cup final with 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao.
Spanish playmaker Olmo was cleared to play again temporarily ahead of Wednesday's game, but the decision came too late for him or Pau Victor, in the same position, to play against Copa del Rey winners Athletic.
Gavi put Barcelona ahead from close range after 17 minutes and teenage winger Yamal scored the second early after the break.
Spanish and European champions Real Madrid face Mallorca in the second semi-final on Thursday.
“We don't care (who we face in the final). It will be tough and we want to win it, which is the important thing, and go home with the trophy.” Yamal told Movistar after the match.
Barcelona, who finished as La Liga runners-up, started brightly and Rafinha volleyed home after a good cross from Jules Cunde and forced Unai Simon into a good save with a free-kick.
It was no surprise when the Catalans broke the deadlock with Alejandro Balde cutting the ball back for Gavi, playing in an attacking midfielder role for Olmo, to head home.
The 20-year-old pointed to an imaginary clock in his celebration, a nod to Olmo, who regularly makes the same gesture after scoring.
At the other end, Inaki Williams lingered on the ball for too long as Athletic's best attacking move of the first half failed.
Yamal, 17, should have added Barcelona's second after Rafinha's shot was saved but missed an attempted lob.
Wojciech Szczesny, on his second start in goal for Barcelona, produced a fine save to keep Inaki Williams at bay before the break.
Barcelona doubled their lead early in the second half when Gavi slipped in Yamal, who finished with aplomb.
“Athletic is a very physical team that makes you run a lot. We suffered especially towards the end, but we managed to play well and we are very happy,” Yamal added.
Poland's veteran striker Robert Lewandowski spurned a great chance to add a third, firing wide when well positioned.
Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde, who was sacked as Barcelona boss after defeat at the same stadium in 2020, brought in Nico Williams to try and turn the game around.
The Spain international, heavily linked with Barcelona in the summer, was not fit enough to start but made a positive impact from the bench.
The winger set up Oscar de Marcos for a shot but the Athletic defender deflected just into the offside and the goal was disallowed.
Inaki Williams also had an offside goal after Frenkie de Jong's poor back pass deflected Alvaro Giallo slightly into the path of the Ghana international.
Barcelona secured the victory and await their rivals in Sunday's final, in which Olmo will be eligible to participate.
