Robert Lewandowski scored twice before Dani Olmo registered a late penalty as La Liga champions Barcelona signed off for the 2024-25 campaign with a 3-0 success over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Sunday night.
Hansi Flick's side won the La Liga title with two games to spare, but they would have been keen to bounce back here, having suffered a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal in their last fixture.
Lewandowski's quick-fire first-half brace put Barcelona in a commanding position, and the hosts had no response, with the champions adding a third in the latter stages through an Olmo penalty.
Barcelona have won the La Liga title with 88 points, four points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, while Athletic have finished the season in fourth, with the Basque outfit securing a return to the Champions League for the 2025-26 season.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Barcelona have finished with a record of 28 wins, four draws and six defeats from their 38 league matches, scoring 102 times and conceding 39, and there can be no doubt that they were the best side in Spain during the 2024-25 campaign.
Flick has delivered three trophies in his first season, also triumphing in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, but their semi-final elimination by Inter Milan in the Champions League was a low point for the Catalan giants.
Barcelona have ultimately finished four points ahead of the 2023-24 champions Real Madrid, and they have had three attackers in glorious form this term, with Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal all having stunning seasons.
Real Madrid will no doubt punch back next season, so Barcelona will have to recruit well this summer, but there is no reason why this team cannot dominate for a few years considering the talent that exits at the club.
As for Athletic, their failure to make it to the final of the Europa League on home soil was a huge disappointment, but their aim for this season was to secure a return to the Champions League, and that has been achieved, with Ernesto Valverde's side ending the season in fourth, ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal on the head-to-head record.
ATHLETIC BILBAO VS. BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS
Robert Lewandowski goal vs. Athletic Bilbao (14th min, Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Barcelona)
Lewandowski with a very cheeky chip! 😍
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 25, 2025
A lovely finish to put Barcelona into the lead 👏
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 @sbk | 18+ | 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑦 pic.twitter.com/2TqOXZd7S3
Barcelona make the breakthrough in the 14th minute of the contest, and it is a wonderful finish from Lewandowski, with the forward lifting the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper after being found by Fermin Lopez.
17th min: Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Barcelona (Robert Lewandowski)
Barcelona double their advantage in the 17th minute of the match, and it is a second for Lewandowski, as the Poland international heads into the back of the net from close range after Athletic fail to deal with a corner.
94th min: Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Barcelona (Dani Olmo, penalty)
Barcelona score their third of the match in the fourth minute of injury time at the end of the second period, as Olmo converts from the penalty spot after the Spaniard had been fouled by Yuri Berchiche.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
© Imago
Lewandowski has finished the season with 42 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions, with the 36-year-old demonstrating that he remains one of the most lethal strikers in world football.
The Poland international came up with a brace against Athletic, with both goals showing his predatory instincts, and Barcelona will be looking for more of the same from the striker during the 2025-26 campaign.
ATHLETIC BILBAO VS. BARCELONA MATCH STATS
Possession: Athletic Bilbao 24%-76% Barcelona
Shots: Athletic Bilbao 10-13 Barcelona
Shots on target: Athletic Bilbao 1-4 Barcelona
Corners: Athletic Bilbao 2-6 Barcelona
Fouls: Athletic Bilbao 21-10 Barcelona
BEST STAT
4 - Most goals by players from the top five European leagues since the 2022/23 season in all comps:
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 25, 2025
🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé - 128
🇳🇴 Erling Braut Haaland - 121
🏴 Harry Kane - 114
🇵🇱 ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI - 101
Incombustible. pic.twitter.com/ivBTDfKhwJ
WHAT NEXT?
Barcelona's attention will now switch to what is shaping up to be an interesting transfer window for the club, with Flick's side said to be prioritising the signing of a winger ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
As for Athletic, a successful campaign has seen the Lions qualify for next season's Champions League, but the Basque outfit are facing a battle to keep hold of a number of key players during this summer's transfer window.
VOTE IN THE 2024-25 SPORTS MOLE READERS' AWARDS!
Voting is now open for the annual Sports Mole Readers' Awards, where you can pick your player of the season, manager of the season, signing of the season and much more.
Click here to make your selections, and the winners will be announced on Monday, May 26!
Matt Law
