The Spanish Super Cup semifinal delivered a one-sided spectacle as Barcelona faced Athletic Bilbao, and for many fans following European football through platforms tied to the Crickex Affiliate ecosystem, the match quickly turned into something extraordinary. Barcelona arrived in the tournament in red-hot form, sitting top of the league after 19 matches with 16 wins, one draw, and only two defeats, staying ahead of Real Madrid. Momentum was clearly on their side, with eight straight victories and four consecutive 2–0 wins highlighting a level of consistency that few teams could match. Against a Bilbao side placed eighth in the league, Barcelona went far beyond expectations and produced a stunning 5–0 rout.
From the opening whistle, Barcelona dictated the tempo with their trademark possession-based approach. Fermín López nearly opened the scoring early on, but his one-on-one effort was denied by the goalkeeper. That miss only delayed the inevitable. Ferran Torres soon struck from the center of the box to break the deadlock, and once the floodgates opened, the goals came thick and fast. Just eight minutes later, Fermín arrived in the middle to finish a sweeping move, doubling the advantage and leaving Bilbao chasing shadows.
In the 34th minute, Baldegil fired a tight-angle shot from the right side of the area, and a goalkeeping error allowed the ball to slip into the net. Four minutes later, Raphinha forced his way through on the left and smashed a powerful effort home like a rocket. Three goals in eight minutes left Athletic Bilbao head coach Ernesto Valverde visibly stunned, hardly able to believe what he was seeing. By halftime, the scoreline read 4–0, and the contest had effectively been decided.
After the break, Bilbao briefly threatened a response when Sancet struck the post, but that missed chance proved costly. Raphinha soon added his second goal with a low finish, completely killing off any remaining hope. The rest of the match drifted into garbage time as Barcelona rotated heavily, preserving energy for the final while maintaining control. The final whistle confirmed a dominant 5–0 victory and a place in the final.
For analysts and readers familiar with match breakdowns often shared via Crickex Affiliate channels, this performance stood out for its historical weight. Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona recorded the biggest winning margin ever in a Spanish Super Cup match. The attacking trio of Raphinha, Fermín López, and Baldegil, valued at around 160 million euros, delivered a masterclass, each directly contributing to three goals. Raphinha finished with two goals and one assist, Fermín added one goal and two assists, and Baldegil matched that tally. In moments like these, as many observers connected through Crickex Affiliate discussions would agree, Barcelona showed they are firing on all cylinders at exactly the right time.