Raphinha Double Fires Barcelona Past Athletic Club and Into Spanish Super Cup Final

Barcelona produced a devastating attacking display to crush Athletic Club 5-0 in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Saudi Arabia, booking a place in the first major final of 2026 and sending a clear message to their domestic rivals.[2][4]

Hansi Flick’s side, who travelled to Jeddah under pressure to translate promising league form into silverware, responded with one of their most complete performances of the season, combining high-intensity pressing, rapid transitions and ruthless finishing against an Athletic team that had started brightly but quickly unravelled once the opening goal went in.[1][3]

After an early spell in which Athletic threatened from set pieces and wide deliveries, Barcelona’s breakthrough came in the 22nd minute. Ferran Torres reacted quickest in a crowded box, scuffing a close-range finish after Fermín López’s initial effort had been blocked, giving Barça the lead and instantly changing the tone of the contest.[3][4]

The goal settled Barcelona’s rhythm, and within minutes they had seized full control. On the half-hour mark, Raphinha drove in from the left and cut the ball back to an unmarked Fermín López, who powered a thumping shot beyond Unai Simón to make it 2-0, underlining the growing influence of Barça’s young midfielder on big occasions.[3]

Athletic, already reeling, were punished again just four minutes later. Roony Bardghji, one of Barcelona’s most talked-about attacking prospects, finished off another incisive move to put Flick’s team 3-0 up in the 34th minute, effectively killing the contest before half-time and highlighting the depth of attacking options now at the club’s disposal.[2][4]

Raphinha, who had been heavily involved in Barça’s best moments throughout the first half, then took centre stage. In the 38th minute he weaved into the box and unleashed a powerful strike into the near corner to make it 4-0, capping a stunning 16-minute spell in which Barcelona scored three times and left Athletic chasing shadows.[3][4]

Just before the interval, Athletic nearly grabbed a lifeline when Oihan Sancet struck the post, but that narrow miss summed up their evening: promising moments without end product, and little margin for error against a Barcelona side in clinical mood.[3]

The second half brought no respite for the Basque club. Seven minutes after the restart, Raphinha pounced on a loose ball in the box and drove another fierce shot past Simón to complete his brace and stretch the scoreline to 5-0, confirming his status as the standout performer on the night and reinforcing his importance in Flick’s attacking structure.[2][3]

With a commanding advantage secured, Barcelona controlled the tempo, circulating possession with authority and denying Athletic any sustained pressure. Substitutes Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Marcus Rashford were introduced to manage minutes and maintain intensity, while the back line, marshalled by Pau Cubarsí and Jules Koundé, limited Athletic to speculative efforts from distance.[2][4]

Joan García, starting in goal for Barcelona, was rarely troubled in open play but responded well when called upon, notably palming away a long-range strike from Mikel Jauregizar as Athletic searched in vain for a late consolation. By the closing stages, the match had the feel of a controlled rehearsal for the upcoming final rather than a tense knockout tie.[3]

The result sends Barcelona into the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia, where the first trophy of the calendar year will be on the line.[1][4] For supporters in India and across Asia, the semi-final was scheduled overnight local time, with India’s broadcast window around 12:30 am via Fancode, reflecting growing regional interest in La Liga and Supercopa fixtures.[7]

For Barça, the emphatic nature of the 5-0 win will be particularly encouraging. The team combined established stars such as Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Raphinha with emerging figures like Fermín López, Roony Bardghji and Lamine Yamal, suggesting a squad that is not only competing for immediate trophies but also building a durable core for the coming seasons.[1][3]

Athletic, meanwhile, face a period of reflection. Historically a formidable opponent in Supercopa clashes with Barcelona, including their dramatic victory in the 2020–21 final, the Basque side could not reproduce the same resilience in Jeddah and will need to quickly reset focus on domestic competitions after one of their heaviest defeats on this stage.[8]

As the Super Cup final approaches, Barcelona’s dominant semi-final performance against Athletic Club establishes them as clear favourites for the first major trophy of 2026, while also raising expectations among fans in India and worldwide that Flick’s project is beginning to deliver on its early promise.[1][2][4]