JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Barcelona advanced to the Spanish Super Cup final after defeating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal and Gavi Páez.

Gavi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, marking his return to form following a serious leg injury that had kept him out of action for nearly a year. The midfielder deftly redirected a short pass from Alejandro Balde, who had skillfully maneuvered to the endline in Athletic’s defensive zone.

In the 52nd minute, Gavi played a pivotal role again, assisting Yamal for Barcelona’s second goal. The 17-year-old forward skillfully controlled the ball while spinning towards the goal before confidently finishing past goalkeeper Unai Simón, effectively sealing the victory for his team.

Real Madrid is set to face Mallorca in the other semifinal clash, also taking place in Jeddah, with the final scheduled for Sunday.

When asked about his preference for the final matchup, Yamal remained non-committal, emphasizing that the team’s focus was on securing the win, regardless of the opponent.

Throughout the match, Athletic Bilbao struggled to pose any significant threat to Barcelona until the closing moments when Iñaki Williams believed he had scored. However, his goal was disallowed following a video review that confirmed he was offside.

This defeat marked the end of Athletic’s impressive 15-game unbeaten run across all competitions, a setback for coach Ernesto Valverde’s side. Athletic Bilbao entered the tournament as the previous season’s Copa del Rey champions, while Barcelona qualified as the runner-up in the Spanish league.

The Spanish Super Cup has gained significant financial traction since the federation agreed to host the tournament in Saudi Arabia, transforming what used to be considered a minor trophy into a lucrative event for both the federation and participating clubs.