Raphinha scored a brace as Barcelona eased into the Spanish Super Cup final with a thumping 5-0 victory over Athletic Club in Saudi Arabia.
Despite a bright start from Bilbao, Barca soon took control of the semifinal and stormed into a 4-0 lead at the break with goals from Ferran Torres, Fermín López, Roony Bardghji and Raphinha all in the space of a destructive 16-minute period.
Raphinha continued a stellar performance with another goal shortly after the restart to complete a dominant display and secure Barcelona’s spot in the competition’s showpiece, where they will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.
“I think if it was an easy game, it was because we made it that way,” Raphinha said after the match. “When we are on form, games can become easier. It’s never easy to play against Athletic. They have a lot of quality and players that can turn a game. Whether it’s easy or difficult, it’s down to how we play.”
Bilbao threatened from kickoff when Aitor Paredes’ header from a corner bounced off Eric García and Adama Boiro’s dangerous cross into the six-yard area was held by Joan García.
Barça burst forward at the opposite end when Raphinha broke through the defence and dragged Unai Simón out of his box on the left, but his cross was cleared.
Pedri had a low effort comfortably scooped up by Simon as Barça grew into the game and the Bilbao goalkeeper was called into action again to smother Lopez’s strike.
But Torres found the breakthrough in the 22nd minute, scuffing home from Lopez’s initial attempt.
Barça doubled their lead on the half-hour mark following a good move on the left. Raphinha cut the ball back into an unmarked Lopez, who fired a thumping strike into the net.
A ruthless display saw Hansi Flick’s side strike again four minutes later when Bardghji cut in from the right, with his low shot squeezing underneath Simon’s arm.
“For me, the game finishes and then it’s the next game, but I really appreciate what I saw today,” Flick said after the match. “I think against Espanyol we didn’t play so good and today we saw a totally different mentality, attitude, how we played as a team, in defence and also offence, it’s good to see that.”
And, in the 38th minute, Raphinha bagged their fourth, weaving into the box and blasting the ball into the near corner.
A frustrating half continued for Bilbao when Oihan Sancet hit the post just before the break and Raphinha soon extended Barça’s lead further seven minutes into the second half after pouncing on a loose ball in the box and unleashed a powerful finish past Simon.
Barça controlled the tempo of the game with limited pressure from Bilbao and substitute Lamine Yamal’s intended cross for Lopez was collected by Simon before Bilbao suddenly broke at the other end, with Unai Gómez bursting through the defence before blasting his effort wide.
Garcia palmed away a long-range effort from Mikel Jauregizar as Bilbao searched for a late consolation, but Barca comfortably controlled the closing stages to book their spot in the final.
