Messi leads Barcelona to Super Cup victory
Argentine masterminded relentless slew of assaults on Sevilla’s goal to make it 3-0 at Camp Nou
PHOTO: AFP
BARCELONA:
Arda Turan and Lionel Messi blew away Sevilla as Barcelona lifted their 12th Spanish Super Cup with a 3-0 victory at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
With the hosts already leading by two goals from the first leg, Sevilla -- bar an early flurry of chances -- were on the receiving end of a Barcelona football master class.
Turan put in his best display yet for the Catalans after a disappointing debut season, scoring once in each half.
But it was Messi who masterminded a relentless slew of assaults on Sevilla’s goal.
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The visitors’ Ben Yedder did force a smart early save by Claudio Bravo, firing a low strike towards the goalkeeper’s far post.
Barcelona withstood the early pressure and it took just 10 minutes for them to open the scoring.
A good move between Andre Gomes and Messi led to the Argentine putting Turan through and the Turk fired home to break the deadlock.
It could have been two shortly afterwards, with Messi drilling a strike inches wide after a good cut-back from Aleix Vidal.
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Vidal was selected ahead of Sergi Roberto as Luis Enrique shuffled his pack, allowing the Camp Nou a first glimpse of all four new signings in competitive action - Gomes, Samuel Umtiti, Denis Suarez and Lucas Digne.
French centre-back Umtiti was having a good game until shortly after the half-hour mark, when he blocked Mariano Ferreira's shot with his arm and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
However, Bravo dived low to his right to deny Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra.
Reports in Spanish media suggest Bravo could be moving to Manchester City and he put in a flawless display.
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Sevilla should have equalised on the stroke of half-time when Vidal allowed Gabriel Mercado space, but his header clipped the top of the crossbar and flew over.
It proved a costly miss five minutes after the break when Turan whipped a superb strike from distance over the goalkeeper for Barca's second.
He should have had his hat-trick a couple of minutes later when Messi played him in, but his lob cleared both the keeper and the crossbar.
It didn’t matter as Messi soon made it 3-0, heading home after a superb cross from Digne, who in turn had been fed neatly by Gomes.
Arda Turan and Lionel Messi blew away Sevilla as Barcelona lifted their 12th Spanish Super Cup with a 3-0 victory at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
With the hosts already leading by two goals from the first leg, Sevilla -- bar an early flurry of chances -- were on the receiving end of a Barcelona football master class.
Turan put in his best display yet for the Catalans after a disappointing debut season, scoring once in each half.
But it was Messi who masterminded a relentless slew of assaults on Sevilla’s goal.
Spanish Super Cup not Barcelona’s yet: Suarez
The visitors’ Ben Yedder did force a smart early save by Claudio Bravo, firing a low strike towards the goalkeeper’s far post.
Barcelona withstood the early pressure and it took just 10 minutes for them to open the scoring.
A good move between Andre Gomes and Messi led to the Argentine putting Turan through and the Turk fired home to break the deadlock.
It could have been two shortly afterwards, with Messi drilling a strike inches wide after a good cut-back from Aleix Vidal.
Messi far better than Ronaldo: Suarez
Vidal was selected ahead of Sergi Roberto as Luis Enrique shuffled his pack, allowing the Camp Nou a first glimpse of all four new signings in competitive action - Gomes, Samuel Umtiti, Denis Suarez and Lucas Digne.
French centre-back Umtiti was having a good game until shortly after the half-hour mark, when he blocked Mariano Ferreira's shot with his arm and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
However, Bravo dived low to his right to deny Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra.
Reports in Spanish media suggest Bravo could be moving to Manchester City and he put in a flawless display.
Man who beat Messi to best goal award retires to become professional gamer
Sevilla should have equalised on the stroke of half-time when Vidal allowed Gabriel Mercado space, but his header clipped the top of the crossbar and flew over.
It proved a costly miss five minutes after the break when Turan whipped a superb strike from distance over the goalkeeper for Barca's second.
He should have had his hat-trick a couple of minutes later when Messi played him in, but his lob cleared both the keeper and the crossbar.
It didn’t matter as Messi soon made it 3-0, heading home after a superb cross from Digne, who in turn had been fed neatly by Gomes.