Barcelona booked its place in the Spanish Super Cup final with a statement 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, a semifinal rout played out under the Saudi Arabian lights. The holders did not just win; they overwhelmed, striking four times before the break to remove any doubt. With a brace from Raphinha and goals from Ferran Torres, Fermín López, and Roony Bardghji, Hansi Flick’s team looked every bit like defending champions hunting another trophy.

This was direct, fast, and full of purpose. It was also controlled. Athletic, so often stubborn and intense, were pushed back and picked apart early, and never found a way into the game.

A first-half blitz in Saudi Arabia

The tone was set in the opening 45 minutes. Barcelona’s tempo was high, their touches sharp, and the runs constant. Four goals before halftime all but ended the contest, as the Basque side struggled to handle the pressure and the movement.

The match report put it simply: “Hansi Flick’s side overpowered their Basque rivals, scoring four times before halftime to all but settle the contest.” That is as clear as it gets. From that point, it was about managing energy and keeping focus for the final waiting at the weekend.

“Four before the break? That’s the Barca punch we’ve been waiting for.”

Raphinha’s brace headlines a ruthless attack

Raphinha was at the heart of everything good in the final third. He stretched Athletic’s line, pressed with intent, and finished twice to put an exclamation mark on the performance. As the report noted, “Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona routed Athletic Bilbao.”

There was a calm, clinical edge to his night. The Brazil forward’s brace did not just boost the scoreline; it also signaled form at the right time, with a final on the horizon. In games like these, big players show up. He did.

Supporting cast delivers: Ferran, Fermín, and Bardghji

If Raphinha grabbed the headline, the supporting roles mattered too. Ferran Torres found the net, Fermín López added another, and Roony Bardghji joined the party to complete the five. Different profiles, same end product: goals.

For Flick, this variety is gold. It means he can lean on more than one route to goal and keeps opponents guessing. It also speaks to confidence through the squad. When the finishers are spread across the team sheet, you tend to see scorelines like this one.

“Five different ways to hurt you, one scoreboard: 5-0. That depth is scary.”

Defending champions set up another final

Barcelona came into the Super Cup as the defending champions, and the performance looked like it. This was controlled aggression, smart pressing, and tidy finishing rolled into one. The reward? A place in the final against the winner of Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid.

The fixture adds an extra spark. Either way, the narrative is rich: a classic Clásico showdown or a tense city duel with Atlético. The key point is that Barcelona arrive in the final with belief, rhythm, and goals in the legs.

Athletic’s tough night

Athletic Bilbao are known for their intensity and refusal to fade. Here, they were hit too hard, too early. The first-half storm forced them to open up, and every risk seemed to bring another Barcelona chance. On this evidence, it was a night to forget and move on from quickly.

Still, the lesson is clear: allow Barcelona space and time in wide areas and in transition, and you are in trouble. The Basque side never solved that puzzle and paid for it.

What the win says about Barcelona right now

Results like 5-0 do more than secure a final; they build habits. Sharp starts, clean finishing, and team-wide buy-in are the kind of details that carry into the next game. The match report captured the essence: “The Brazil forward was at the heart of Barcelona’s attack and capped his display with a brace that completed another Super Cup final qualification for the defending champions.”

Flick will like the balance between flair and structure. Barcelona were bold but not careless, direct but not chaotic. That is how you win knockout games.

“Raphinha’s brace is big, but the clean sheet and control? That’s title stuff.”

Eyes on the final

Next up is the final against Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid. That will demand another level of focus and a repeat of the first-half energy that buried Athletic. The stakes are simple: win, and Barcelona lift another Super Cup. Lose focus, and the chance slips away.

For now, the message is simple too: this team looks ready. The forwards are scoring. The midfield is pushing the game. The back line kept a clean sheet. Keep that blend, and Barcelona will be hard to stop, in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

For a semifinal, this felt like a statement. For a champion, it felt familiar.