Athletic Club 0-3 FC Barcelona: Winning finale

FC Barcelona have ended the 2024/25 season on a winning note. The title had already been sewn up a fortnight earlier following the 2-0 defeat of Espanyol in the derby, but this team never likes to lose and was desperate to make amends for the loss to Villarreal last week with a win at San Mamés on the final day.

And that’s exactly what they delivered in a game where only honour was at stake, with Athletic Club also comfortably settled among the five Liga teams that will be playing Champions League football after the summer break.

Nevertheless, the Basques were also keen to end their campaign with a show for their fans, especially on the night that they were bidding farewell to a stalwart of 16 seasons at Bilbao’s famous club, Óscar De Marcos, who left the field in the final minutes to a tear-jerking ovation.

Lewandowski double

Indeed, when Barça took the lead after 14 minutes, it was somewhat against the run of play. The home side opened the evening by bombarding the Barça goal, defended today by Iñaki Peña, and Unai Gómez even had the ball in the net once but the offside flag was up on that one.

Hansi Flick’s side was looking worryingly vulnerable, but in their first real attack of their own, they were one-up. An exquisite pass from Fermin Lopez was received by Robert Lewandowski, who brilliantly flicked the ball over Unai Simón.

After Kylian Mbappe had scored twice against Real Sociedad on Saturday, the Pole’s chances of winning the pichichi were practically a lost cause. But he wasn’t going down without a fight

For three minutes after scoring his 100th goal for the club, and also the club’s 100th goal of the league season, he did it again! Unai Núñez met a Barça corner with his head, but rather than clear the ball he nodded it straight into the path of the blaugrana number nine.

Lewandowski took the gift with pleasure, after which Raphinha laughingly indicated to his team-mate that he only needed four more. At this rate, he might even get them! As it happens, in the second half he’d have a couple of particularly great chances to add even more. Sadly, they were squandered.

Olmo penalty

Meanwhile, Lewy's brace took a lot of the sting out of Athletic Club’s game. They still battled earnestly, but Barça now had things very much under control, and other than a chance for Nico Williams the only other time they’d really get close to scoring came when Pau Cubarsí headed the ball onto his own crossbar.

With a two-goal cushion, Barça could afford to relax… but that’s not a word that enters Lamine Yamal’s vocabulary. The youngster was the standout player in the second half, coming close to scoring on at least three occasions.

In the end, the only other goal of the game came with the very last kick. Dani Olmo was brought down in the area and the same man tookthe kick. In it went, 3-0 to Barça and so ends not just Barça’s season but also La Liga 2024/25.

Curtain down on a fantastic season

And what a year it’s been. There was considerable skepticism about Barça’s chances when it all starts. A team in transition, with a new manager and a very young squad… Barça didn't big up their chances, but got on with the job and managed to prove the doubters wrong. Liga champions, and the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey to boot, and only a matter of minutes away from a Champions League Final.

It's been an absolute rollercoaster of a campaign, with dramatic comebacks, no few than four Clásico victories and the emergence of a number of young stars for whom the adventure is only just beginning. It's been one of the greatest Barça seasons ever, and yet it feels like this is an era that is only just beginning.

The present is bright, and the future looks even brighter.

In August it all starts again. And we can’t wait. Força Barça!

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