Spanish Super Cup: Gavi, Yamal score as Barcelona beats Athletic Club 2-0 to book spot in final

Spanish Super Cup: Gavi, Yamal score as Barcelona beats Athletic Club 2-0 to book spot in final

Young starlets Gavi and Lamine Yamal fired Barcelona into the Spanish Super Cup final with a 2-0 win against Athletic Club at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium here on Wednesday.

Spanish playmaker Dani Olmo was cleared to play again on a temporary basis before the game but the decision came too late for him or Pau Victor, in the same position, to feature against Copa del Rey winners Athletic.

Gavi put Barcelona ahead from close range after 17 minutes and teenage winger Yamal netted the second early after the break.

Spanish and European champion Real Madrid faces cup runner-up Mallorca on Thursday in the second semifinal.

Barcelona, which qualified as La Liga runner-up, started brightly and Raphinha volleyed over from a fine Jules Kounde cross and forced Unai Simon into a good save with a free-kick.

It was no surprise when the Catalans broke the deadlock with Alejandro Balde cutting the ball back for Gavi, playing in Olmo’s attacking midfield role, to turn home.

At the other end Inaki Williams dallied on the ball too long as Athletic’s best attacking move of the first half broke down.

Yamal should have added Barcelona’s second after Raphinha’s shot was saved but miscued an attempted lob.

Wojciech Szczesny, on his second start in goal for Barcelona, made a good save to keep Inaki Williams at bay before the break.

Barcelona doubled its lead early in the second half when Gavi slipped in Yamal who finished with aplomb. Veteran Polish forward Robert Lewandowski spurned a fine chance to add the third, firing off-target when well placed.

Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde, who was sacked as Barcelona boss after a defeat at the same stadium in 2020, brought on Nico Williams to try and turn the game around.

The Spain international, heavily linked with Barcelona in the summer, was not fit enough to start, but made a positive impact from the bench.

The winger set up Oscar de Marcos to strike but the Athletic defender had strayed just offside and the goal was ruled out.

Inaki Williams also had a goal ruled out for offside after Frenkie De Jong’s poor back-pass took a slight deflection off Alvaro Djalo on its way to the Ghana international.

Barcelona secured its victory and awaits its opponent in Sunday’s final, in which Olmo will be allowed to feature