JEDDAH: Goals from Gavi and Lamine Yamal earned Barcelona a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Jeddah on Wednesday to reach their third successive final.

Meanwhile, Barca received a massive boost before the match that their Spanish playmaker Dani Olmo’s license was revoked. He was cleared to play again on a temporary basis before the game but the decision came too late for him or Pau Victor.

Gavi opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Yamal doubled Barca’s lead seven minutes after the break.

“Athletic are a very physical team that make you run a lot, we suffered above all towards the end, but we were able to play well and we’re very happy,” Yamal told Movistar.

The winger said Olmo and Victor were pleased to be allowed to play once more.

“In the end you’re nervous when you can’t play and when you get news like that, you’re very happy,” added Yamal.

Barca coach Hansi Flick hailed the decision from Spain’s national sports council regarding Olmo and Victor.

“The whole club is very happy for this right decision,” said Flick, hoping to win his first silverware at the helm of Barca.“We wanted to show we are a team and we win also for them.”

The earliest chances fell to Barcelona’s Raphinha, who first acrobatically volleyed over and then struck a powerful free kick which keeper Unai Simon parried away, but Barca were soon rewarded for their early onslaught.

Pedri played a pass to Alejandro Balde wide in the area who pulled the ball back across to Gavi, and from just outside the six-yard box he slipped his shot through the legs of Simon.

Barca could have doubled their lead but Raphinha hit his shot straight at the keeper when put through on a one-on-one by Yamal, and Athletic finally began to create opportunities of their own.

Wojciech Szczesny got down to stop a low cross from Yuri Berchiche with Gorka Guruzeta waiting in front of goal for what would have been a simple tap-in, and the Barcelona keeper then denied Inaki Williams just before the break.

Yamal missed the last two games with an ankle injury but his performance showed why manager Hansi Flick risked the winger from the start.

Gavi turned provider with a delightful pass played forward which Yamal controlled beautifully on the turn before taking the ball into the area and coolly driving his shot past Simon.

Athletic had left a not fully fit Nico Williams out of the starting side but the winger was called into action with his side trailing, but their best chance fell to his brother Inaki who pulled his shot wide from a decent position.

Oscar de Marcos and Inaki Williams both had the ball in the net for Athletic late on but were denied by offside decisions, and Barcelona deservedly took their place in the final.

“It’s a shame given all the effort... but we have good things ahead of us and we have to continue,” said Inaki.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2025