FC Barcelona will compete in the Supercopa de España final on Sunday, with Dani Olmo available for selection if deemed fit by Hansi Flick, following a commanding 2-0 victory against Athletic Club in the tournament opener in Jeddah.
The Catalan team not only controlled the score but also exhibited better movement on the ball. Saudi Arabia saw the team arrive amid confusion: Dani Olmo’s transfer drama, fears of inconsistent performances in the league, and the criticism directed toward their President Joan Laporta. All these factors made the impression that the Barcelona team was under siege, but the team proved the critics wrong with a fantastic performance. And as if the controversy surrounding the match had not been enough, Raphinha who captained during the match caused an uproar in the locker room before the game by speaking very freely on how he feels about the club currently and how joining Barça was a mistake in their current situation.
Despite everything, Barcelona made a statement show. Earlier in the day, the CSD granted a precautionary measure in the Olmo case, a decision which was visibly relieving for Laporta. Then, fueled by that, they came into the game with focus and energy.
FC Barcelona | Early Dominance
Barcelona didn’t take long to get a hold of the game. At the 10-minute mark, Unai Simon, the keeper for Athletic, had two close-range attempts saved. Seven minutes later Gavi on a setup by Alejandro Balde, scored the opener of the match making it a well-deserved lead of 1-0 for Barcelona. By the 23rd minute, the aerial attack of the Barcelona team continued to leave quite the impression as they had a shot on target from seven attempts while the Athletic team barely managed to get one shot.
Athletic’s Resistance and Barça’s Second Wind
Athletic Club, however, did show some fight in the second half of the first period but were unable to convert their chances. Immediately in the second half, Lamine Yamal scored the second goal and made it to 2-0. Yamal was able to score a great burst of a goal, as he was assisted by Gavi, managing to keep his cool at that moment. The young players who have been turning into stars and who are set on the future of the team were actively building up and attacking, which the second goal demonstrated as well, for Barcelona asserted its dominance.
Making his debut for Barça, Wojciech Szczesny put up a steady performance thus ensuring his reliability as a goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski almost scored a third goal while Iñaki Williams had his late strike ruled off for offside ensuring there was building drama in an encounter that Barcelona dominated.
Looking Ahead
Barcelona’s resounding triumph has earned them a position in the final of the Supercopa. Where they will go up against the victor of the Real Madrid-Mallorca semifinal, during the Sunday match. With the faith restored and key individuals presenting themselves, Barca appears to be in a position to contend for the first trophy of the season.
This victory serves as a reminder of Barcelona’s resilience and quality. Even during times of chaos, a quality that is set to define their season ahead.
