Spanish Super Cup: Impressive Bilbao take a bow

Madrid: Athletic Bilbao claimed their first trophy in 31 years as they drew 1-1 with 10-man Barcelona to win the Spanish Super Cup 5-1 on aggregate on Monday. Lionel Messi had given the European champions — who trailed 0-4 from the first leg — a glimmer of hope with the opener two minutes before half-time.

 

However, any realistic hope Barca had of pulling off a monumental comeback disappeared when Gerard Pique was shown a straight red card for dissent 10 minutes into the second-half. 

And Aritz Aduriz exploited the space left by the Spanish international defender’s dismissal to follow up his hat-trick in the first leg with the crucial away goal midway through the second-half. Barcelona boss Luis Enrique had made six changes to the side that was thrashed at the new San Mames on Friday with a host of first-team regulars coming back into the side.

 

The hosts started on the front foot as Luis Suarez saw a shot deflected just over before Pique’s effort came back off the crossbar. 

Yet, Athletic’s mass ranks of defence were comfortably keeping Enrique’s men at bay and the visitors even had a great chance to put the tie to bed when Javier Eraso skipped past Javier Mascherano before firing into the side-netting rather than squaring for Aduriz to apply a simple finish. Barca finally found a way through thanks to a brilliant move as Suarez headed down for Messi who chested the ball down before sweeping home.

 

Claudio Bravo kept Barcelona’s hopes alive early in the second period with saves from Markel Susaeta and Aduriz, but his good work was undone when Pique was sent off for something he said to the referee’s assistant.