Lamine Yamal put on a spectacular show as Barcelona sailed into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a dazzling 5-1 victory over Real Betis on Wednesday. Atletico Madrid joined them in the last eight with a 4-0 win at second division Elche, their 15th consecutive triumph across all competitions. Barca’s 17-year-old starlet Yamal scored and helped create two more goals as Hansi Flick’s side ran riot at the Olympic Stadium. Gavi sent Barcelona ahead early on, with Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Yamal helping the Catalans rack up an impressive win.

After winning the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia last weekend by thrashing Real Madrid, Barca came into the cup clash with restored confidence, having stuttered in the final weeks of 2024.

“We have to continue like this,” said Barca defender Pau Cubarsi, also 17, who came through the club’s youth academy with Yamal.

“I’ve been enjoying watching him for many years, now the whole world is, and he deserves it all.”

Barca dominated from the off against Betis, despite the coach resting a couple of key players including striker Robert Lewandowski.

Dani Olmo, whom Barcelona controversially obtained a temporary playing license for last week, started at false nine in place of the Polish veteran.

The Spaniard helped create the opening goal at the sharp end of a neat team move, with Gavi tucking home in the second minute.

Olmo fired over and hit the post during a particularly busy opening period for the former RB Leipzig playmaker.

Kounde smashed in Barcelona’s second after the sublime Yamal dinked a ball through to him on the right of the box.

It was an area the Catalans exploited time after time, with Kounde’s second goal from a similar position disallowed for a marginal offside.

At the other end goalkeeper Inaki Pena made a fine save to deny Vitor Roque, on loan at Betis from Barcelona.

Gavi ‘big talent’

Early in the second half Yamal, who taunted Betis’ defence throughout, finished clinically after Frenkie De Jong lobbed the ball through to him on the right of the box, but it was disallowed for an offside in the build-up.

Minutes later Barcelona scored their third anyway, with Yamal’s surging run from deep in his own half ending up with his deflected effort falling to Raphinha, who struck.

Barcelona netted their fourth when, again exploiting the same part of Betis’ area, Olmo chipped a pass to substitute Ferran Torres to finish emphatically.

Yamal finally got on the scoresheet himself after breaking in from the right wing and finishing at the near post.

Roque pulled one back from the penalty spot in the final stages for Betis after Kounde stood on Jesus Rodriguez’s foot in the penalty area.

Gavi said after the game Yamal was the best player in the world after former Barca forward Lionel Messi, and Flick also praised the winger.

“Gavi’s very emotional, so I say also yes (he’s the best),” joked Flick.

“You can see it, in great matches you see big talent and he showed it many many times, he’s on a good (path).”

Yamal, who shone for Spain as they won Euro 2024 last summer, has nine goals and 13 assists across all competitions for Barcelona this season.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone rested some of his regular starters, including Antoine Griezmann, as his team ran out comfortable winners at Elche to continue their winning streak.

Alexander Sorloth struck twice for the Rojiblancos in the first half, and the visitors were further bolstered when Elche’s Nico Fernandez was sent off early in the second half.

Rodrigo Riquelme extended Atletico’s lead with a fine strike from distance and Julian Alvarez rounded off the rout.

On Thursday Spanish champions Real Madrid host Celta Vigo and cup holders Athletic Bilbao welcome Osasuna.

Young starlets Gavi and Lamine Yamal fired Barcelona, without Dani Olmo after his licence to play was revoked, into the Spanish Super Cup final with a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday. Spanish playmaker Olmo was cleared to play again on a temporary basis before the game but the decision came too late for him or Pau Victor, in the same position, to feature against Copa del Rey winners Athletic. Gavi put Barcelona ahead from close range after 17 minutes and teenage winger Yamal netted the second early after the break.

Spanish and European champions Real Madrid face cup runners-up Mallorca on Thursday in the second semi-final in Saudi Arabia, where the competition has been held for the past few years.

“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 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.

Barca coach Hansi Flick hailed the decision from Spain’s national sports council regarding Olmo and Victor.

“The whole club is very happy for this right decision,” said Flick, hoping to win his first silverware at the helm of Barca.

“We wanted to show we are a team and we win also for them.”

Barcelona, who qualified as La Liga runners-up, started brightly and Raphinha volleyed over from a fine Jules Kounde cross and forced Unai Simon into a good save with a free-kick.

It was no surprise when the Catalans broke the deadlock with Alejandro Balde cutting the ball back for Gavi, playing in Olmo’s attacking midfield role, to turn home for his first goal since suffering a severe knee injury last season.

The 20-year-old pointed at an imaginary watch in his celebration, a nod to Olmo who regularly produces the same gesture after scoring.

At the other end Inaki Williams dallied on the ball too long as Athletic’s best attacking move of the first half broke down.

Yamal, returning after an ankle problem, should have added Barcelona’s second after Raphinha’s shot was saved but the 17-year-old miscued an attempted lob.

Wojciech Szczesny, on his second start in goal for Barcelona, made a good save to keep Inaki Williams at bay before the break.

Sharp Yamal

Barcelona doubled their lead early in the second half when Gavi slipped in Yamal who finished with aplomb.

Veteran Polish forward Robert Lewandowski spurned a fine chance to add the third, firing off-target when well placed.

Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde, who was sacked as Barcelona boss after a defeat at the same stadium in 2020, brought on Nico Williams to try and turn the game around.

The Spain international, heavily linked with Barcelona in the summer, was not fit enough to start, but made a positive impact from the bench.

The winger set up Oscar de Marcos to strike but the Athletic 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 Williams.

Barcelona were able to book their place in Sunday’s final, in which Olmo will be allowed 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.

Barcelona vs Athletic Club LIVE Streaming, Spanish Super Cup: FC Barcelona will be hoping to put aside their patchy La Liga form as they take on Athletic Club de Bilbao in the first semi-final of the Supercopa de Espana. While Barcelona have qualified for the Supercopa after finishing second in last season’s La Liga, Athletic qualified as a result of winning the Copa del Rey 2023/24. Barcelona will also hope to put off-field problems behind them, having been in the news for not being able to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor with their first team squad. Barcelona narrowly won 2-1 when the two sides met in La Liga this season, but they will be without teenage sensation Lamine Yamal for the contest.

Here are the LIVE Streaming details for Barcelona vs Athletic Club de Bilbao, Supercopa de Espana 2024/25 LIVE Telecast: Check Where and How To Watch:

When will the Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Supercopa de Espana match take place?

The Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Supercopa de Espana match will take place on Thursday, January 9 (IST).

Where will the Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Supercopa de Espana match be held?

The Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Supercopa de Espana match will be held at the King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

What time will the Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Supercopa de Espana match start?

The Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Supercopa de Espana match will start at 12:30 AM IST (Thursday).

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Supercopa de Espana match?

The Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Supercopa de Espana match will not be televised live in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Supercopa de Espana match?

The Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Supercopa de Espana match will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

London:

The World Health Organization said on Friday its partners like Gavi and Unicef can start buying mpox vaccines before they are approved in a bid to get inoculations to Africa faster as the continent battles an escalating outbreak of the virus.

Traditionally, organisations like Gavi, which helps lower-income countries buy vaccines, can only start purchasing shots once they have approval from the WHO. But the rules have been relaxed in this instance to get talks moving, as the WHO’s approval is due in a few weeks.

Two vaccines, made by Denmark’s Bavarian Nordic and Japan’s KM Biologics, are already approved by regulators around the world, including the United States and Japan, and have been in widespread use for mpox since 2022.

Around 1.2 million people have had Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine in the United States alone. The WHO is expected to grant an emergency licence to the shots in September.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Spain conquered Europe for a record fourth time on Sunday as they beat England to win Euro 2024 and want this historic night to be the beginning of a new period of dominance. Led by young stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, 17 and 22 respectively, many in Luis de la Fuente’s superb side will hit their prime in the years ahead. Between 2008 and 2012 Spain dominated international football, winning the Euros in those years and the 2010 World Cup in the middle. A fallow period followed with Spain falling badly short in most competitions until reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2020.

It was a positive sign but a last 16 defeat by Morocco at the 2022 World Cup spelled the end of Luis Enrique’s reign and the start of what was to come.

No longer dependent on dominating possession, Luis de la Fuente’s Spain play to a wide variety of strengths.

Sometimes they do keep the ball, as in the second half of their semi-final win over pre-tournament favourites France, but are not afraid to go direct, with the speedy and skilful Williams and Yamal duo leaving full-backs for dead on the counter.

Spain’s football has changed but they are hoping their domination of the international stage will be repeated.

“The European champions have been deservedly crowned, today I am even prouder and I hope this impulse will serve to be even better,” said De la Fuente.

“You can always improve and that’s our objective… we will do it because these players are an example for everyone, they are so good.”

Three of the stars from their golden generation, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and David Villa, watched on in the Olympiastadion as La Roja lifted a major trophy for the first time in 12 years.

Laughing stock

Their elation in Germany comes after a troubled period in which the Spanish football federation became a global laughing stock.

After their brilliant women’s team won the World Cup in Australia last August, disgraced former president Luis Rubiales sparked worldwide controversy by forcibly kissing player Jenni Hermoso.

The man who appointed De la Fuente as Luis Enrique’s replacement eventually stepped down from his post three weeks later under heavy pressure from the government and the women’s players, who went on strike.

De la Fuente came close to the brink himself after applauding a fiery Rubiales speech initially refusing to resign, but apologised for it later, saying he was under “psychological stress” in the situation.

The coach had also come under heavy scrutiny after a shock defeat by Scotland in Euros qualifying in March 2023, but steadied the ship by winning the Nations League three months later, confirming Spain were on the right track, at least on the field.

With the team no longer dependent on stars from Real Madrid and Barcelona, but instead a real mix including a strong Basque contingent from Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, Spain believed in themselves and their plan, even if others viewed them as lacking players to compete with the likes of France and England for the trophy.

They beat both, as well as hosts Germany and Euro 2020 winners Italy — the other four of Europe’s ‘big five’.

“This is a dream, we are the best national team in Europe,” Rodri told ITV.

“Imagine what we have next — we are so happy. We made history but it doesn’t stop here, we have talent and we’ll keep going.”

They won Euro 2024 without Barcelona midfielder Gavi, who suffered a bad knee injury in November, and the Catalan club’s young centre-back Pau Cubarsi, whom De la Fuente left behind this time, but will likely be a key component in the future.

Spain were also without Pedri for the semis and final after he was hurt early in the quarter-final win over Germany.

It is clear why De la Fuente believes Spain’s present is bright but their future can be even brighter.