Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup after a thrilling 3-2 win over Real Madrid at Camp Nou to edge a 5-4 aggregate victory.
Jose Mourinho’s team made a bright start, taking the game to the European champions and creating the first opportunities yet it was Barcelona wh o took the lead. A wonderful reverse pass from Lionel Messi found the breaking run of Andres Iniesta who finished with a sublime ship over Iker Casillas. However, the lead lasted just five minutes as Cristiano Ronaldo levelled matters with a deft flick from close range.
Messi restored the hosts’ advantage before half-time following clever backheel from Gerard Pique that sent the little Argentine through on goal and seemed destined to be the defining moment until Karim Benzema netted late on. Yet there was still time for winner before extra-time became inevitable as a wonderful interchange with Adriano saw Messi decide the destination of the trophy with a crisp left foot volley.
There was even time for a touchline scrap, that is becoming a trademark of recent El Clasicos, when Marcelo received a straight red card for an ugly challenge on Cesc Fabregas – making his debut as a late substitute – that aroused the ire of both benches and saw the Special One enacting some petty-ear pinching on the Barcelona assistant coach.
1-0 (Iniesta)
1-1 (Ronaldo)
2-1 (Messi)
2-2 (Benzema)
3-2 (Messi)
Mourinho pinches Barcelona coach
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