Barcelona attain the ultimate of the Spanish Tremendous Cup with a 2-0 win in opposition to Athletic Bilbao in Saudi Arabia.
Younger starlets Gavi and Lamine Yamal fired Barcelona, with out Dani Olmo after his licence to play was revoked, into the Spanish Tremendous Cup remaining with a 2-0 win in opposition to Athletic Bilbao.
Spanish playmaker Olmo was cleared to play once more on a brief foundation earlier than the sport on Wednesday, however the resolution got here too late for him or Pau Victor, in the identical place, to function in opposition to Copa del Rey winners Athletic.
Gavi put Barcelona forward from shut vary after 17 minutes and teenage winger Yamal netted the second early after the break.
Spanish and European champions Actual Madrid face cup runners-up Mallorca on Thursday within the second semifinal.
“We don’t care [who we face in the final]. Will probably be exhausting and we need to win it, which is the vital factor, and return dwelling with the trophy,” Yamal advised Movistar after the sport.
Barcelona, who certified as LaLiga runners-up, began brightly and Raphinha volleyed over from a positive Jules Kounde cross and compelled Unai Simon into a superb save with a free-kick.
It was no shock when the Catalans broke the impasse with Alejandro Balde chopping the ball again for Gavi, enjoying in Olmo’s attacking midfield function, to show dwelling.
The 20-year-old pointed at an imaginary watch in his celebration, a nod to Olmo, who often produces the identical gesture after scoring.
On the different finish, Inaki Williams dallied on the ball too lengthy as Athletic’s finest attacking transfer of the primary half broke down.
Yamal, 17, ought to have added Barcelona’s second after Raphinha’s shot was saved however miscued an tried lob.
Wojciech Szczesny, on his second begin in purpose for Barcelona, made a superb save to maintain Inaki Williams at bay earlier than the break.
Barcelona doubled their lead early within the second half when Gavi slipped in Yamal who completed with aplomb.
“Athletic are a really bodily crew that make you run quite a bit. We suffered above all in the direction of the top, however we have been capable of play properly, and we’re very completely happy,” Yamal added.
Veteran Polish ahead Robert Lewandowski spurned a positive probability so as to add the third, firing off-target when well-placed.
Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde, who was sacked as Barcelona boss after a defeat on the identical stadium in 2020, introduced on Nico Williams to attempt to flip the sport round.
The Spain worldwide, closely linked with Barcelona in the summertime, was not match sufficient to start out, however made a constructive influence from the bench.
The winger arrange Oscar de Marcos to strike, however the Athletic defender had strayed simply offside and the purpose was dominated out.
Inaki Williams additionally had a purpose dominated out for offside after Frenkie de Jong’s poor back-pass took a slight deflection off Alvaro Djalo on its method to the Ghana worldwide.
Barcelona secured their victory and await their opponents in Sunday’s remaining, by which Olmo might be allowed to function.
