Barcelona defeat Olmo-less Athletic to reach Spanish Super Cup final

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Young stars Gavi and Lamine Yamal fired Barcelona, ​​without Dani Olmo after his playing license was revoked, into the Spanish Super Cup final with a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

Spanish playmaker Olmo was cleared to play again on a provisional basis before the match, but the decision came too late for him or Pau Victor, in the same position, to play 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.

On Thursday, the Spanish and European champions, Real Madrid, will meet the cup runner-up Mallorca in the second semi-final in Saudi Arabia, where the competition has been held for the past few years.

“Athletic is a very physical team that makes you run a lot, we suffered above all towards the end, but we were able to play well and we are very happy,” Yamal told Movistar.

The winger said Olmo and Victor were happy to be allowed to play again.

“At the end of the day, you’re nervous when you can’t play, and when you get news like that, you’re very happy,” added Yamal.

Barcelona, ​​who qualified as runners-up in La Liga, 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 head home.

The 20-year-old pointed to an imaginary clock in his celebration, a nod to Olmo, who regularly produces the same gesture after scoring.

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

Yamal, returning from an ankle problem, should have added Barcelona’s second after Raphinha’s shot was saved, but the 17-year-old mistimed an attempted lob.

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

Barcelona doubled their lead early in the second half when Gavi slipped in Yamal, who finished with conviction.

Polish veteran Robert Lewandowski spurned a fine chance to add the third as he was well placed.

Athletics coach Ernesto Valverde, sacked as Barcelona boss after a defeat at the same stadium in 2020, got Nico Williams to try to turn the game around.

The Spain international, heavily linked with Barcelona this 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 disallowed.

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

“It’s a shame given all the effort… but we’ve got good things ahead of us and we’ve got to keep going,” Inaki Williams said.

Barcelona could book their place in Sunday’s final, where Olmo will be allowed to participate.

“We don’t care (who we meet in the final), it’s going to be difficult and we want to win it, which is the most important thing, and go home with the trophy,” Yamal said.

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