Barcelona secured their place in the final of the 2024-25 Supercopa de España with a decisive 2-0 victory over Athletic Club on January 9, 2025, at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The match marked the first semifinal of the tournament, which has evolved from its traditional format to include four teams based on specific qualifications.
Historically, the Supercopa featured the previous season's La Liga and Copa del Rey champions, but since the 2019-20 season, it adopted the ‘Final Four’ format, incorporating the top two teams from La Liga and the Copa del Rey finalists. This year’s edition is particularly notable as it continues to take place in Saudi Arabia, following adjustments made due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The semifinal featured Barcelona, who finished second in La Liga last season, against Athletic Club, the Copa del Rey champions who had lifted the trophy for the first time in 40 years last season. Despite Athletic's recent triumph, they entered this game trailing Barcelona by just two points in La Liga, where they boasted ten wins, six draws, and three losses, standing fourth. Barcelona had secured twelve wins, two draws, and five losses to claim third place.
The starting lineups for both teams reflected their strategies: Athletic included goalkeeper Unai Simon and forward Iñaki Williams, with Nico Williams starting on the bench. Barcelona fielded Pedri, Gavi, and Raphinha as starters, and welcomed back Ramin Jamal from injury, though Dani Olmo remained sidelined due to registration issues.
From the first whistle, Barcelona dominated possession, with Raphinha coming close to scoring just three minutes in, narrowly missing the target. They continued to press, earning free kicks and creating opportunities. The breakthrough came at the 17-minute mark when Raphinha found Gavi with a clever pass inside the box. Gavi netted his first goal since returning from injury, putting Barcelona up 1-0.
Barcelona maintained their pressure, with Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski pushing for more goals. Athletic Club struggled to counter, with their best chance falling to Iñaki Williams, who failed to convert when presented with the opportunity. The first half ended with Barcelona leading 1-0, though Athletic showed signs of life as they sought equal footing.
The second half saw Barcelona extend their lead just seven minutes after the restart. Gavi was instrumental again as he set up Ramin Jamal, who displayed brilliant skill to slip past Simon and finish with composure, making it 2-0. Athletic Club made tactical substitutions, including bringing on Mikel Vesga and Oscar de Marcos, but found themselves unable to capitalize on their chances.
Despite generating some opportunities, including two disallowed goals for offside, Athletic Club just couldn’t find the net. Unai Simon had notable saves throughout the match but could do little to stave off the growing threat from Barcelona. The final whistle confirmed Barcelona’s 2-0 victory, sending them to the final where they will meet the winner of the other semifinal between Real Madrid and Mallorca.
This match reiterated Barcelona's quality and determination, showcasing their capability to perform on large stages. Head coach Hansi Flick’s first chance at silverware with the club is on the horizon, with the final scheduled for January 12. The team’s supporters expressed their delight, showing appreciation for the players’ efforts, especially following their recent legal battles over player registrations.
For those interested, the final will be broadcast exclusively on U-NEXT, continuing the trend of limited coverage options for this prestigious tournament. With the stakes high, fans eagerly await what promises to be an exciting climax to the Supercopa de España.