Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal in action in front of Athletic
Bilbao’s Yuri Berchiche during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between
Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arab.
- JEDDAH (SAUDI ARABIA)
— Lamine Yamal and Gavi Páez scored to lead Barcelona past Athletic Bilbao
2-0 and into the Spanish Super Cup final on Wednesday.
- Gavi scored in the 17th minute of the semifinal for his
first goal since the midfielder returned to playing in October after a serious
leg injury that sidelined him for nearly a year.
- Gavi then helped Yamal put the result away in the 52nd with
a pass that the 17-year-old controlled while twirling toward the goal. Yamal
sized up goalkeeper Unai Simón and slotted home to double the lead.
- Real Madrid and Mallorca will play the other semifinal also
in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. The final is on Sunday.
- Yamal didn't reveal which rival he would prefer for the
final, saying “the final will be tough, and we want to win it, that is the
important thing.”
- Gavi got Barcelona going after he redirected in a short pass
from Alejandro Balde after the left back had reached the endline in Athletic's
area.
- Athletic could barely muster a threat until it was behind by
two goals. Iñaki Williams thought he had scored in the final minutes but it was
waived off after a video review ruled him offside.
- The loss ended a 15-game unbeaten streak for Ernesto
Valverde's team across all competitions.
- Athletic was participating in the tournament as the winner
of last season's Copa del Rey. Barcelona is here as the Spanish league's
runner-up. The minor trophy has become a major cash maker for the federation
and competing clubs since the federation struck a deal in 2019 to hold it in
the Middle Eastern kingdom.
