A year on from their last Spanish Super Cup meeting, Barcelona and Athletic Club found themselves crossing paths once again at the semifinal stage.
If last season’s encounter ended with a relatively controlled 2-0 victory for the Blaugrana, this time there was no such restraint on the scoreboard.
Barcelona delivered a ruthless 5-0 win that underlined the growing gap between the two sides on the night and reinforced Hansi Flick’s authority over big-stage fixtures.
The final score could easily have been even more damaging for Athletic Club. After Raphinha struck for the second time to make it 5-0, Barcelona visibly eased off.
Several Barça players, many of whom share a dressing room with Unai Simon in the Spanish national team, chose not to push further and avoided turning the semifinal into a humiliation.
That sense of control defined the entire match, with Flick’s side dictating the tempo from the opening whistle to the final minute.
While much was said about the goals and the dominance of Barcelona’s midfield and attack, several moments away from the spotlight told their own story.
Here, we look at three such moments.
A goalkeeper duel with a clear winner
Jogadores do Barça indo abraçar o Unai Simón porque sabem que ele não jogará mais pela seleção 😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/xWovcYrgRm
— Radio Culer (@RadioCuler) January 7, 2026
One of the most anticipated subplots before kick-off was the goalkeeper battle between Joan Garcia and Unai Simon.
With both men firmly in contention to be Spain’s first-choice goalkeeper at next World Cup, the semifinal carried extra personal stakes. However, that individual duel was settled early and decisively.
Simon endured a difficult night, most notably with a costly mistake that directly contributed to Roony Bardghji’s goal.
On the other end, Joan Garcia barely put a foot wrong and finished the match with a clean sheet, further strengthening his case in the ongoing national team debate.
After the final whistle, the human side of football came to the surface, as Barcelona’s Spanish internationals made a point of approaching Simon to offer words of comfort after conceding five goals.
Garcia also joined them, sharing a warm embrace with his rival.
It was a moment that showed mutual respect, even amid fierce competition, and one that the Athletic goalkeeper clearly appreciated following a painful defeat.
Inaki Williams and a hostile reception
😳 "Mañana será como jugar fuera de casa".
❌ "Es una faena no poder tener a nuestra gente aquí".
🗣️ Iñaki Williams, crítico por jugar la Supercopa de España en Yeda. pic.twitter.com/nA7woMtvpC
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) January 6, 2026
Not all the attention surrounding Athletic Club was sympathetic. From the opening minutes, Inaki Williams was met with boos and whistles from the Saudi crowd.
The reaction stemmed from comments he had made earlier about the competition being staged in Saudi Arabia.
The Athletic Club captain had been outspoken about the location of the tournament, stating that “playing the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia is rubbish,” a remark that quickly travelled beyond Spain and reached the host nation itself.
The fallout was significant enough that the Royal Spanish Football Federation reportedly contacted Williams, urging him to moderate the tone of his comments.
That backdrop created a tense atmosphere whenever Williams touched the ball.
Despite his status as a club legend, he found himself at the centre of an uncomfortable situation.
Lamine Yamal steals the spotlight before kick-off
Lamine Yamal 🤝 Iñaki Williams, Unai Simón y Dani Vivian. #DeportePlus #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/qAOVlabOe3
— Fútbol en Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) January 7, 2026
Even though Lamine Yamal did not start the match, the young Barcelona star still managed to draw attention before a ball was kicked.
Moments ahead of kick-off, cameras captured a warm and friendly exchange between the teenager, Inaki Williams, and Simon, both of whom know Yamal from international duty.
As they greeted each other on the pitch, Williams showed genuine affection towards the young winger, asking him directly, “How are you, my little one? All good?”
Yamal responded calmly, “Good.” Williams then extended the conversation beyond football, adding, “And your mother?” to which Yamal replied, “She’s fine, all good.”
Simon also joined in, greeting the Barcelona youngster enthusiastically with, “You beast! How are you? All good?” Once again, Yamal kept it simple, replying, **“Good.**“