Barcelona and Sevilla played the first title of the season in Tangier corresponding to the Spanish Super Cup. The meeting was full of controversy about the date and place of celebration, something that had caused discussion between the president of the RFEF, Luis Rubiales, and the Andalusian team, contrary to playing outside Pizjuán.
DATA SHEET
1 – Seville: Vaclik; Jesús Navas, Mercado (Ben Yedder, m.84), Kjaer, Sergi Gómez, Escudero; Banega, Roque Mesa; Sarabia (Aleix Vidal, m.71), Franco Vázquez; and Muriel (Andre Silva, m.60).
2 – Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Arthur (Coutinho, m.52), Busquets, Rafinha (Rakitic, m.46); Dembélé (Arturo Vidal, m.86), Luis Suárez and Messi.
Goals: 1-0, m. 9: Sarabia, with a crossed pass to Muriel’s pass. 1-1, m. 41: Pique rivets a rebound in the post after a free kick from Messi. 1-2, m. 78: Dembélé, with a right to the square.
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (C. Madrileño). He admonished Franco Vázquez (24) and Roque Mesa (68), for Sevilla, and Ter Stegen (89), for Barcelona.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the Supercopa de España, played at the Ibn Battuta stadium in Tangier (Morocco) before some 45,000 spectators.
In addition, the question of how many extracomunicators could play also caused conflicts with the Sevillian club, which announced that they would denounce Barça if they skipped the protocol imposed by LaLiga.
In one way or another, the match started with Barça as the favorite and with Sevilla, runner-up of the Copa del Rey last year, looking to give the surprise and a title that has never been achieved.
The game would start with Sevilla well positioned on the field and waiting for Barça to take the initiative. The Catalans were happy to control the ball, and already managed possession in the first minutes of the crash.
However, it would be the Andalusians who would open the can. In a great play of Muriel, who recovered in the front a punt puntse of Busquets, the ball would reach the boots of Sarabia, scoring against Ter Stegen. Despite initial doubts about possible offside, Sevilla gave the surprise in the first minutes and went ahead on the scoreboard.
Barça try to react
The team of Ernesto Valverde did not take in reacting, and became quickly to do with the control of the party. First it was Messi, very active in the first minutes, the one who tried it in the exit of a corner meeting with a great stop of Vaclík. The keeper again responded excellently to a shot from Jordi Alba who was trying to surprise him by the first post.
Although Sevilla had phases in which they took the ball, the next moments of the match were Barça. Despite having possession, the Sevillian team had learned the lesson and after the chances of Messi and Alba were more solid behind. The Blaugranas dominated, but they would not have more big chances. The game of Valverde’s team was mostly developed by the left wing, but they could not find their forwards.
After half an hour of play, Barcelona came back to the Sevillian area with great danger. After several badly resolved internships with several hesitant rejections of the Andalusians, Suarez had the clearest, but the ball went away grazing the right post. Barça had it again and Sevilla suffered again, but for the moment it would be the Andalusians who maintained the advantage in the light.
Tie Barcelona before the break
The perseverance of the Catalans was rewarded. A dangerous foul on the edge of the area was thrown by Messi, who hit the post, but the rebound favored Pique, who put the tables just before the break.
Piqué, celebrating the goal
Piqué, celebrating the goal / SERGIO PEREZ (REUTERS)
Still Sevilla put the second and go ahead to rest. The pass of Muriel’s death came at the feet of Sarabia, but Ter Stegen responded with a great stop and prevented the Andalusians went ahead to rest. At the end tables, with 45 minutes left and everything to be decided.
Blaugrana domain after the break
The second half was accompanied by changes. Rakitic entered through Rafinha and Coutinho through Arthur. Machín would take longer to make the changes and Muriel was replaced by André Silva.
The return of the costumes had the same script as the first half. The Catalans dominated the ball and the possessions of the Sevillians were few, short, and did not materialize at times. After the first few minutes, the Machín players retreated back and left the possession of the Ernesto Valverde team trying to take advantage of some counter to make the second.
The crazy minutes arrive
At this point the best minutes of the match arrived. First it was Messi in a flata that Vaclík took out of fists. Then Sevilla crashed a ball on the crossbar in a serve of corner after Mudo Vázquez’s shot. The game was open, and Vaclík again intervened with a great stop to Démbele. Mudo Vazquez would try soon after, but the ball would go to the right of the goal of Ter Stegen. At the 70th minute Machín introduced Aleix Vidal while Sarabia, the author of the goal, went to the bench. From then on, the match fell again and Barça regained the initiative. Those of Valverde joined many people in the attack to knock down the Sevillian wall. The goal by Dembele ahead of Barça Démbele has been one of the heroes of the gameDémbele has been one of the heroes of the match / SERGIO PEREZ (REUTERS) Despite the Vaclík interventions, the azulgranas finally got a deserved goal. Démbele scored from outside the area a real goal that came skimming the crossbar and left Barca with the Super Cup with only 12 minutes left. The Frenchman himself was the next change of Barcelona, which gave Arturo Vidal entrance to the last minutes of the match. Title for Barça In the final minutes Sevilla tried to get close to the Barça area and when everything seemed decided, a penalty in favor of the Andalusians it gave them the chance to tie to force extra time. However, Ter Stegen blocked the shot by Ben Yedder and those of Valverde again conquered the Super Cup. Ben Yedder missed the penalty that could send the game to extra timeBen Yedder missed the penalty that could send the game to extra time / JON NAZCA (REUTERS)