Athletic Bilbao Faces Barcelona in Supercopa Semifinal Amid Tensions

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona are set to clash in the semifinal of the 2025 Supercopa de España on Wednesday at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. The match comes amid heightened tensions within the Barcelona camp, as the club grapples with internal issues and a challenging season.

Athletic Bilbao, the reigning Copa del Rey champions, enter the match with confidence, having consistently performed well against Barcelona in knockout competitions. Since their 2021 Supercopa victory, Athletic has lost only one of their last five encounters with Barcelona, including eliminating them in the Copa del Rey in both 2022 and 2024. The Basque team, currently fourth in LaLiga EA Sports, is just two points behind Barcelona and remains a strong contender for a Champions League spot.

Barcelona, on the other hand, arrives in Jeddah with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the club. Internal disputes, including unresolved player registrations for key figures like Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor, have created a tense atmosphere. Captain Raphinha publicly called for swift resolutions, stating, ‘This situation is affecting the team.’

Ernesto Valverde, Athletic’s coach, faces a personal challenge as he squares off against his former club. Valverde was dismissed as Barcelona’s manager in 2020 after a Supercopa semifinal loss in Jeddah, a decision that marked the beginning of a turbulent period for the Catalan giants. Now, he aims to lead Athletic to another victory over Barcelona, despite concerns over the fitness of star player Nico Williams, who is recovering from a knee injury.

For Barcelona, Hansi Flick‘s side is under pressure to deliver a strong performance to calm the growing unrest. The return of Lamine Yamal to the starting lineup provides a glimmer of hope, as the young forward has been a bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent season. Flick confirmed Yamal’s availability, emphasizing the importance of his attacking presence.

The match kicks off at 2:00 PM ET (11:00 AM PT, 1:00 PM MX) and will be broadcast live on Movistar. With both teams vying for a spot in the final, the stakes are high as Athletic seeks to continue its dominance over Barcelona in knockout tournaments, while the Catalan club aims to salvage its season with a much-needed victory.