Bilbao v Barcelona | Match Highlights | LaLiga EA Sports Matchday 38
Bilbao v Barcelona
On a balmy Sunday evening at the iconic San Mames Stadium, Barcelona capped their triumphant 2024-25 LaLiga campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Athletic Club, a result that underscored their dominance as champions and sent their fans into raptures. The match, though a formality with the title already secured over a week prior, showcased the clinical precision of Robert Lewandowski, whose rapid brace in the first half set the tone, and the composure of Dani Olmo, who sealed the win with a late penalty. For Barcelona, the victory was a fitting finale to a near-perfect season that saw them amass 88 points, finishing four points clear of rivals Real Madrid, with Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, and Villarreal rounding out the top five to secure Champions League qualification. Athletic Club, despite the defeat, could reflect on a solid campaign that guaranteed their place among Europe’s elite next season. The match, bathed in the electric atmosphere of San Mames, was a testament to Barcelona’s relentless quality under Hansi Flick and a poignant moment of celebration for a team that had overcome challenges to reclaim their throne at the summit of Spanish football.
With the LaLiga title already in the bag, Barcelona approached the game with a sense of freedom, allowing Flick to make bold selection choices. Opting to rest key players like goalkeepers Wojciech Szczesny and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Flick handed a rare start to third-choice keeper Iñaki Peña, who had not featured in over four months. The decision reflected Flick’s confidence in his squad’s depth and his desire to give opportunities to fringe players in a match with little at stake. Athletic Club, meanwhile, entered the game with their Champions League spot secured, but the pride of performing in front of their passionate home crowd drove them to challenge Barcelona from the outset. The hosts, under Ernesto Valverde’s guidance, started brightly, pressing high and looking to exploit any complacency in the champions’ ranks. However, Barcelona’s attacking prowess, even with a rotated squad, quickly asserted itself. In the 14th minute, Fermín López, the young midfielder who had emerged as a key figure in Barcelona’s midfield, delivered a pinpoint pass that caught Athletic’s defense off guard. Robert Lewandowski, with his predatory instincts on full display, controlled the ball expertly, beat the offside trap, and executed a deft lob over goalkeeper Unai Simón. The goal, a masterclass in composure, silenced the San Mames crowd and set the stage for Barcelona’s dominance.
Just four minutes later, Lewandowski struck again, doubling Barcelona’s lead with a display of his aerial prowess. A corner kick, whipped in with precision, exposed a rare lapse in Athletic’s defensive organization. Unai Gómez, caught out of position, failed to clear the ball, allowing Lewandowski to rise highest and head it into the net. The Polish striker’s brace within the opening 18 minutes underscored his importance to Barcelona’s title-winning campaign, his movement and finishing proving too much for Athletic’s backline. The early goals deflated the hosts, who struggled to regain their footing against a Barcelona side that controlled possession with their trademark fluidity. Despite the scoreline, Athletic showed flashes of their attacking intent, with Iñaki Williams and Oihan Sancet combining to test Peña, who proved equal to the task with a series of confident saves. Barcelona, however, maintained their grip on the game, their high pressing and intricate passing patterns stifling Athletic’s attempts to build momentum. By halftime, the champions led 2-0, and the match already felt like a celebratory procession for Flick’s side, who had executed their game plan with ruthless efficiency.
The second half saw Barcelona continue to dictate the tempo, though Athletic Club, spurred on by their vocal supporters, pushed for a way back into the game. Lewandowski, hungry for a hat-trick that would have brought him closer to Kylian Mbappé’s LaLiga-leading 31 goals, came agonizingly close shortly after the restart. A slick passing move carved open Athletic’s defense, leaving Lewandowski with a clear sight of goal, but his effort was thwarted by a sprawling save from Simón, who redeemed his earlier error. The miss ensured that Lewandowski, with 27 goals, would finish second in the LaLiga scoring race, a remarkable achievement nonetheless in a season where he had been the linchpin of Barcelona’s attack. As the game progressed, Flick introduced substitutes to manage his squad’s energy, with Dani Olmo entering the fray to add fresh legs and creativity. Athletic, to their credit, refused to capitulate, with Williams’ pace and Sancet’s vision creating moments of danger. However, Peña’s assured performance in goal, combined with the solidity of Barcelona’s defense, led by the ever-reliable Ronald Araújo, ensured that the hosts’ efforts were in vain. The game seemed destined to end with Barcelona’s two-goal lead intact until the 92nd minute, when Olmo, fouled inside the penalty area by a desperate Athletic defender, won a spot-kick. With Lewandowski having been substituted just minutes earlier, Olmo stepped up and fired a tidy shot into the bottom corner, sealing a 3-0 victory that sent a clear message about Barcelona’s depth and quality.
Post-match, Lewandowski reflected on the performance with a mix of pride and satisfaction. “We knew it was the last game of the season and we had a plan to win it; we played well in the first half, we had everything under control all the way,” he told Movistar Plus. “It’s almost the perfect season. Now let’s enjoy the moment.” His words captured the sentiment of a Barcelona side that had defied expectations to reclaim the LaLiga title with 88 points, finishing four points ahead of Real Madrid and cementing their status as Spain’s finest. The victory at San Mames was a microcosm of their season—clinical in attack, resolute in defense, and tactically astute under Flick’s guidance. For Athletic Club, the defeat did little to dampen their achievement of securing a top-five finish and Champions League qualification, a testament to Valverde’s ability to blend youth and experience. The hosts’ fans, while disappointed with the result, applauded their team’s efforts, recognizing the progress made in a competitive LaLiga campaign that also saw Real Betis and Celta Vigo earn Europa League spots, and Rayo Vallecano secure a Conference League berth.
As the dust settled on the 2024-25 season, Barcelona’s players and staff could look back on a campaign that had restored their pride and reaffirmed their dominance. Flick’s decision to rest key players like Szczesny and Ter Stegen highlighted the squad’s depth, with Peña’s performance proving that Barcelona’s future is bright, even beyond their established stars. Lewandowski’s brace, meanwhile, was a reminder of his enduring quality, and Olmo’s late penalty underscored the contributions of a new generation of talent. For Athletic Club, the focus now shifts to the Champions League, where they will aim to make an impact while building on their domestic success. The summer will bring challenges for both sides—Barcelona will look to strengthen their squad to defend their title and compete in Europe, while Athletic will aim to maintain their core group of Basque talents. The match at San Mames, though lacking in competitive stakes, was a celebration of LaLiga’s quality, with Barcelona’s victory a fitting end to a season that saw them rise above their rivals. As the players left the pitch to a chorus of cheers, the stage was set for the next chapter in their storied rivalry, with Barcelona poised to continue their reign and Athletic eager to prove their European credentials.
