Barcelona’s performance against Athletic Club in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final was far more than a simple 5-0 victory. It was a complete footballing spectacle that showed how brilliantly Hansi F...
Barcelona’s performance against Athletic Club in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final was far more than a simple 5-0 victory.
It was a complete footballing spectacle that showed how brilliantly Hansi Flick’s ideas are taking root.
While the four early goals inside the opening half hour effectively decided the contest, the true scale of Barça’s dominance is best understood through the numbers and they are staggering.
A detailed look at the win
From a collective point of view, Barcelona were overwhelming. According to the statistics, they finished the match with an extraordinary 79.5% possession, suffocating Athletic Club for long spells and denying them any rhythm.
Barça registered 13 shots to Athletic’s five, with seven of those efforts hitting the target.
Of those seven, five ended up in the net, while two missed the target.
Furthermore, Barcelona’s dominance was reflected in touches in the opposition area, where Barcelona recorded 31 interventions compared to Athletic’s 12.
Yet the statistic that truly defines the night is passing. Barcelona completed an astonishing 842 passes, completely dwarfing Athletic’s 202.
Fermin Lopez was one of the most creative players. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Even more impressive was the accuracy, with Flick’s side operating at a remarkable 92% completion rate.
Which player stood out?
Individually, several Barcelona players stood out. Fermin Lopez and Raphinha were the most active in front of goal, with four and three shots respectively.
Both were also the most accurate, each hitting the target twice.
Creativity was another area where Barça excelled, as Fermin and Roony Bardghji both created four chances each.
At the back, Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi dictated the tempo, completing 141 and 129 passes respectively.
In midfield, Pedri once again showed his importance. He was the most accurate player in the final third and also the one who won the most balls in midfield, with eight recoveries.
Out wide, Raphinha led the way with six crosses, constantly stretching the pitch.
Lastly, Joan Garcia also played his part, recovering 12 balls and making three solid saves when called upon, dealing confidently with the few threats Athletic managed to create.
Category: General Sports
