By Amofokhai Williams
Barcelona turned the Olympic Stadium into a stage of complete domination on Saturday afternoon, brushing aside Athletic Bilbao 4–0 in a match that underlined their growing confidence under Hansi Flick and the blossoming brilliance of Lamine Yamal.
From the opening whistle, Barcelona controlled the rhythm with a swagger that left Bilbao chasing shadows. Their passes were crisp, their movement relentless, and their intent unmistakable: this was a team determined to make a statement.
It took only four minutes for the breakthrough. Robert Lewandowski, lurking with trademark instinct, latched onto a clever pass and drove the ball low into the corner. It was a simple finish, yet it announced the tone of the match, Barcelona sharp, Bilbao stretched.
The visitors tried to regroup through sporadic breaks led by Nico Williams, but Joan Garcia remained largely untroubled. Barcelona’s control only tightened as the half progressed.
Just before the interval, teenage prodigy Yamal slipped into a higher gear. A slick exchange of passes ended with the youngster threading a beautifully weighted ball into Ferran Torres, who finished with calm precision to double Barça’s lead.
Torres thought he had another minutes later, only for VAR to intervene for offside, but the momentum was already irreversibly in Barcelona’s favour.
Any faint hopes of a Bilbao revival vanished early in the second half. Oihan Sancet—already booked—was shown a straight red after VAR reviewed a reckless challenge. Ernesto Valverde watched in frustration as his side’s numerical disadvantage plunged them deeper into survival mode.
Barcelona, sensing opportunity, obliged. Fermin Lopez collected a through ball inside the box and dispatched a clean low finish to make it 3–0, further loosening Bilbao’s resistance.
Wave after wave of Barcelona pressure followed. Dani Olmo went close, Yamal dazzled repeatedly, and Unai Simón was forced into several spectacular saves. The fourth goal felt inevitable.
It arrived in the 90th minute when Yamal again found space, squared unselfishly to Ferran Torres, and the winger tucked home from close range. This one survived VAR scrutiny and sealed a near-flawless evening.
