Barcelona Faces Athletic Bilbao in Supercopa Semifinal Amid Turmoil

Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao will clash in the semifinal of the Spanish Supercopa on Wednesday at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The match comes amid internal turmoil for Barcelona, with the club grappling with off-field issues and a tense atmosphere surrounding the team. Athletic Bilbao, the reigning Copa del Rey champions, enter the game with confidence, having defeated Barcelona in recent knockout competitions.

Barcelona’s recent struggles have been compounded by uncertainty over player registrations, with Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor still awaiting clearance to play. The team’s morale has been further affected by public statements from players like Raphinha, who called for swift resolutions to the club’s administrative problems. “This situation is not good for Barça,” Raphinha said during a press conference. Head coach Hansi Flick acknowledged the challenges but remained focused on the task at hand.

Athletic Bilbao, under the guidance of Ernesto Valverde, arrives in Jeddah with a strong record against Barcelona in knockout tournaments. The Basque club eliminated Barcelona in the Copa del Rey in both 2022 and 2024 and defeated them in the 2021 Supercopa final. Valverde, who was dismissed as Barcelona’s coach in 2020, emphasized the importance of player fitness, with Nico Williams‘ availability in doubt due to a recent knee injury.

For Barcelona, the return of Lamine Yamal to the starting lineup provides a glimmer of hope. Yamal, who has been sidelined with an injury, is expected to bolster the team’s attack. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao will rely on their defensive solidity and the leadership of players like Iñigo Lekue and Yuri Berchiche. The match promises to be a clash of contrasting emotions, with Athletic Bilbao riding a wave of optimism and Barcelona seeking to stabilize amid ongoing challenges.

The winner of this semifinal will face either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid in the Supercopa final, set to take place on Sunday. Both teams are aware of the stakes, with the Supercopa serving as a crucial opportunity to claim silverware early in the year.