Bilbao celebrate winning the Spanish Super Cup but were only in the competition because Barcelona had won both domestic competitions last season. PHOTO: AFP
Bilbao last secured a major trophy when they won Spain’s traditional season opener in 1984 and Friday’s 4-0 drubbing of the Spanish and European champions in the first leg left Barca with too much to do at the Nou Camp.
After waves of sustained pressure, Lionel Messi gave the home side a 1-0 second-leg lead shortly before halftime when he chested down a clever Luis Suarez layoff and clipped a close-range volley into the net.
However, Barca’s hopes suffered a blow 10 minutes into the second half when centre-back Gerard Pique was shown a straight red after he strode angrily over to the side of the pitch and shouted in the referee’s assistant’s face to protest a decision.
The incident seemed to give Barca renewed energy, and Pedro and Ivan Rakitic immediately had chances to make it 2-0 before Suarez fired wildly over when through on the left.
However, the Barca defence left a gaping hole at the back 16 minutes from time and Aritz Aduriz, who netted a hat-trick in the first leg, was able to score at the second attempt past Claudio Bravo, prompting wild celebrations among the Bilbao fans inside the giant arena. Not even a late red card for substitute Kike Sola could tarnish the Basque club’s joy as they ended Barca’s hopes of repeating their 2009 feat when they won all six competitions they contested: the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey, the European Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2015.
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