Barcelona boosted by Dani Olmo and Pau Victor news before beating Athletic Bilbao
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Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is marked by Athletic Bilbao defender Yuri Berchiche during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final.
PHOTO: AFP
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JEDDAH – Barcelona received a massive boost before their Spanish Super Cup semi-final win over Athletic Bilbao on Jan 8, with news that Dani Olmo and Pau Victor can play in the final, to the delight of Hansi Flick and his team.
The Catalan side, who were without Olmo after his licence to play was revoked, booked their spot in the title decider with a 2-0 win in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, thanks to goals from Gavi and Lamine Yamal.
Spanish playmaker Olmo was cleared to play again on a temporary basis before the game but the decision came too late for him or Victor, in the same position, to feature against Copa del Rey winners Bilbao.
Spain’s National Sports Council allowed the La Liga club to provisionally register the duo, four days after the Spanish football authorities rejected their requests.
Barca coach Flick hailed the decision. The German, who is hoping to win his first piece of silverware with Barca, said: “The whole club is very happy for this right decision. We wanted to show we are a team and we win also for them.”
Gavi, 20, put Barca ahead after 17 minutes and the 17-year-old Yamal made it 2-0 early after the break. They will face either Real Madrid or Mallorca in the final on Jan 12.
“Athletic are a very physical team that make you run a lot, we suffered above all towards the end, but we were able to play well and we’re very happy,” Yamal told Movistar.
The winger also said Olmo and Victor were pleased to be allowed to play once more.
“In the end you’re nervous when you can’t play and when you get news like that, you’re very happy,” added Yamal.
Veteran Polish forward Robert Lewandowski squandered a fine chance to add a third goal for Barca, firing off-target when he was well-placed to score.
Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde, who was sacked as Barcelona boss after a defeat at the same King Abdullah Sports City stadium in 2020, brought on Nico Williams to try and turn the game around.
The Spain international winger, heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer, was not fit enough to start, but made a positive impact from the bench.
The 22-year-old set up Oscar de Marcos to score, but the Bilbao defender had strayed just offside and the goal was ruled out.
Inaki Williams also had a goal ruled out for offside, after Frenkie de Jong’s poor back pass took a slight deflection off Alvaro Djalo on its way to the Ghana international.
“It’s a shame given all the effort... but we have good things ahead of us and we have to continue,” said Inaki, who is Nico’s older brother.
With the victory, Barcelona were able to book their place in the final, in which Olmo will definitely be eager to feature.
“We don’t care (who we face in the final), it will be hard and we want to win it, which is the important thing, and go back home with the trophy,” said Yamal.
AFP, REUTERS
