Barcelona player ratings vs Athletic: Gavi shines, Szczęsny's heroic performance

The Spanish Super Cup semifinal between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona was a dramatic encounter. While Barcelona entered as favorites, Athletic Bilbao, reigning Copa del Rey champions and 2021 Super Cup winners, were not ready to back down. The match's climax came when Iñaki Williams’ late goal was controversially disallowed.

In the end, Barcelona claimed a deserved, albeit hard-fought, victory. Despite recent dips in form and the absence of key players Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor, the team benefited significantly from Lamine Yamal's return, which undoubtedly boosted their attacking sharpness.

Standout players

Wojciech Szczęsny
Szczęsny had a busy night. With five challenging saves, he often found himself operating outside the box. Barcelona's high defensive line left space for long balls behind the defense, forcing Szczęsny to step up and intercept. While not always elegant, his decisions were consistently effective. Remarkably, this was only Szczęsny’s second match of the season, yet his form was impeccable despite his recent career hiatus.

• Also read: Flick makes last-minute goalkeeper change for Super Cup match: Here's why

Marc Casadó
Casadó excelled defensively, arguably outperforming the nominal defenders. He recorded 10 defensive actions, but what stood out most was his perfect tackling record: six tackles attempted, six tackles won. Such efficiency is a rarity and demonstrates his invaluable contribution to the team’s defensive solidity.

Gavi
Gavi was Barcelona’s primary attacking threat (apologies to Raphinha and Yamal). His clinical goal, scored from a tricky pass, was just one highlight. More impressively, he created three key passes and orchestrated several dangerous moments for his teammates, making him the focal point of Barcelona’s offensive efforts.

Worth mentioning

Raphinha deserves a nod for his relentless attacking efforts. The Brazilian registered six shots on goal, demonstrating his role as Barcelona’s main attacking outlet. Unfortunately, none of his attempts found the back of the net, but his presence kept Athletic’s defense under constant pressure.

Barcelona player ratings vs Athletic Bilbao

• Balde A. - 7
• Gavi - 8
• García E. - 6
• de Jong F. - 5
• Casadó M. - 7
• Kubarci P. - 7
• Koundé J. - 7
• Lewandowski R. - 6
• López F. - 6
• Martín J. - 6
• Martínez I. - 7
• Pedri - 7
• Raphinha - 7
• Torres F. - 7
• Szczęsny W. - 9
• Yamal L. - 8