Raphinha delivered a flawless performance to help Barca 'crush' Bilbao

Following his outstanding display that led Barcelona to a dominant win against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, Raphinha expressed enthusiastic confidence about his team's exceptional class.

Barcelona showcased their formidable strength in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final by demolishing Athletic Club with an incredible 5-0 scoreline. This win advances Barca to the final, where they will face the winner of the Madrid derby between Real and Atletico.

On a day of outstanding performance, Raphinha was the brightest star with a double goal and an assist. He earned the highest rating of 10 and was named Man of the Match. After the game, the Brazilian star confidently, even somewhat arrogantly, spoke about how Barcelona dominated Bilbao.

Speaking to the media, Raphinha stated that Bilbao's defeat was due to Barca's overwhelming strength: "We were the ones who made the game look so easy. I believe Barca has proven its quality. This match showed Barca’s class and the clear gap between us and Bilbao."

Raphinha further explained the team's approach to victory: "We did everything right, defending well and attacking effectively... which made the game easier. Facing Athletic is always tough, but in the end, we decided whether the match was easy or hard."

In this match, besides Raphinha, another Barca player worthy of praise was Fermin Lopez. This young midfielder matched an impressive feat previously achieved by teammate Gavi in the Spanish Super Cup. According to Opta, at 22 years and 241 days old, Lopez became the second youngest player in history to both score and assist in a single match in this competition. Earlier, Gavi set this record at 20 years and 156 days during a Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao game in 2025.

Last season, Barcelona secured a domestic "treble" by winning the Spanish Super Cup, La Liga, and the Copa del Rey. Now, they aim to defend these titles while striving to conquer the Champions League as well.