JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Lamine Yamal and Gavi Páez scored to lead Barcelona past Athletic Bilbao 2-0 and into the Spanish Super Cup final on Wednesday.
Gavi scored in the 17th minute of the semifinal for his first goal since the midfielder returned to playing in October after a serious leg injury that sidelined him for nearly a year.
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Barcelona's Gavi, front, celebrates after scoring during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Gavi, front, celebrates after scoring during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, and Athletic Bilbao's Yuri Berchiche fight for the ball during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action in front of Athletic Bilbao's Yuri Berchiche during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, and Gavi celebrate after the goal during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Gavi then helped Yamal put the result away in the 52nd with a pass that the 17-year-old controlled while twirling toward the goal. Yamal sized up goalkeeper Unai Simón and slotted home to double the lead.
Real Madrid and Mallorca will play the other semifinal also in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. The final is on Sunday.
Yamal didn’t reveal which rival he would prefer for the final, saying “the final will be tough, and we want to win it, that is the important thing.”
Gavi got Barcelona going after he redirected in a short pass from Alejandro Balde after the left back had reached the endline in Athletic's area.
Athletic could barely muster a threat until it was behind by two goals. Iñaki Williams thought he had scored in the final minutes but it was waived off after a video review ruled him offside.
The loss ended a 15-game unbeaten streak for Ernesto Valverde's team across all competitions.
Athletic was participating in the tournament as the winner of last season’s Copa del Rey. Barcelona is here as the Spanish league’s runner-up. The minor trophy has become a major cash maker for the federation and competing clubs since the federation struck a deal in 2019 to hold it in the Middle Eastern kingdom.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Barcelona's Gavi, front, celebrates after scoring during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Gavi, front, celebrates after scoring during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, and Athletic Bilbao's Yuri Berchiche fight for the ball during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action in front of Athletic Bilbao's Yuri Berchiche during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, and Gavi celebrate after the goal during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring during the Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — At least five people were killed and nearly 2,000 structures were destroyed as fierce wildfires raged in the Los Angeles area, officials said. Fast-moving flames burned through homes and businesses as residents fled smoke-filled canyons and picturesque neighborhoods that are home to many celebrities.
Many of the towering fires began Tuesday and were fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, which gusted to more than 70 mph (112 kph) in some spots. The winds persisted Wednesday and for a while made it too dangerous for aircraft to attack the fires from the sky, furthering hampering their efforts. The winds lessened Thursday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state has deployed more than 1,400 firefighting personnel to battle the blazes. In a rare, urgent plea, the Los Angeles Fire Department asked all off-duty firefighters in the city to help. Oregon was sending 300 firefighters and Washington state 146 personnel. Utah, New Mexico and Arizona were also dispatching teams.
AccuWeather estimated $52 billion to $57 billion in preliminary damage and economic loss has occurred from the fires.
President Joe Biden cancelled a trip to Rome and the Vatican to monitor the response from Washington.
Here's what to know about the fires:
An estimated 1,000 structures have been destroyed in the hilly coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history.
The wreckage surpassed that of the Sayre Fire of November 2008, which destroyed 604 structures in Sylmar, the northernmost suburb of the city, according to statistics kept by the Wildfire Alliance, a partnership between the city’s fire department and MySafe:LA.
Some 25 square miles (40 square kilometers) burned in Pacific Palisades, which is dotted with celebrity homes and was memorialized by the Beach Boys in their 1960s hit “Surfin’ USA.” The flames torched part of Palisades Charter High School, which has been featured in many Hollywood productions, including the 1976 horror movie “Carrie” and the TV series “Teen Wolf.”
The fire destroyed the public library, two major grocery stores, a pair of banks and several boutiques in Palisades Village. Actor Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost their home of 45 years.
Residents rushing to escape created a traffic jam, blocking emergency vehicles from getting through. Crews used a bulldozer to push the abandoned cars off to the side. Photos depict what some residents describe as an apocalyptic scene.
Farther inland, the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena burned between 200 and 500 structures, substantially damaged five school campuses in Altadena and scorched more than 16.5 square miles (43 square kilometers). Employees at a senior center pushed dozens of residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds to a parking lot to escape.
The Hurst Fire, which started Tuesday night, prompted evacuations in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley and grew to one square mile (2.6 square kilometers).
Late Wednesday, another blaze broke out in the Hollywood Hills. Called the Sunset fire, it was burning near the Hollywood Bowl and other iconic landmarks.
At least 130,000 people were ordered to evacuate — a number that kept changing because evacuation orders were continually being issued.
Several hundred were at the Pasadena evacuation center by Wednesday afternoon. Many were elderly.
The flames marched toward highly populated and affluent neighborhoods, including Calabasas and Santa Monica, home to California’s rich and famous. Hollywood stars including Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore and James Woods were among those forced to flee, and Moore later said she lost her home in Altadena.
The fires filled the air with a thick cloud of smoke and ash, prompting air and dust advisories for 17 million people across a vast stretch of Southern California, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The worst conditions were in the vicinity of the fires. In East Los Angeles, the air quality index hit an unhealthy 173. Good air quality is considered to be 50 or less.
Dr. Puneet Gupta, the assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said wildfire smoke causes heart attacks and worsens asthma, while burning homes can release cyanide and carbon dioxide.
The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames. They had been set to play at the Kings’ downtown arena Wednesday night.
The Critics Choice Awards rescheduled their Sunday ceremonies for Jan. 26. They're due to be held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, only miles from Pacific Palisades.
The organization that puts on the Oscars has extended the voting window for Academy Awards nominations and delayed next week’s planned nominations announcement.
Film studios canceled two movie premieres because of the fires and windy weather, the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park closed for the day because of smoky, windy conditions and the J. Paul Getty Trust said two of its museums, the Getty Villa and Getty Center, will remain closed for the next few days.
Universal Studios also canceled shooting for numerous series, including “Hacks,” “Ted Lasso” and “Suits LA.”
All schools will be closed Thursday in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Over 300,000 customers were without power in Southern California early Thursday, with more than half of them in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide.
Thick heavy smoke from wildfires passes over the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
The Eaton Fire engulfs a property Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Firefighters protect a structure as the Eaton Fire advances Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Residents embrace in front of burning structures as the Eaton Fire advances Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Fire explodes out of a window of the Altadena Community Church, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in the downtown Altadena section of Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Firefighters work inside a burned structure while battling the Eaton Fire, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Trees sway in high winds as the Eaton Fire burns structures Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
People watch as the Eaton Fire destroys a neigborhood Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Firefighters work a hydrant in front of the burning Bunny Museum, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in the Altadena section of Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A wildfire-ravaged property is shown after the Palisades Fire swept through in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A man walks his bike among the ruins left behind by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The Eaton Fire burns vehicles and structures Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
A resident of a senior center is evacuated as the Eaton Fire approaches Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A resident of a senior center is evacuated as the Eaton Fire approaches Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
