Spanish Supercup – Leg: The miracle was so far away for Barca … – Eurosport.fr

         
           Lionel Messi has maintained the flame, but the magic did not operate at Camp Nou. Forced the feat in the final leg of the Spanish Super Cup (4-0 in the first leg), Barca failed to back up its deficit facing Bilbao (1-1). The opening of Argentina’s score was not followed (43rd) and the Catalan club said goodbye to sixfold.
       

         Blame it on energy and selflessness of Basques who defended en bloc before equalizing through Aritz Aduriz late in the game (74th). The fault, too, Gerard Piqué. Central defender Barça saw red (56) after losing his cool against one of the assistant referees. Athletic Bilbao raises the second Spanish Super Cup in its history after the one won in 1984. This was the last title in its history.
       

Bilbao celebrates his victory in the Spanish Super Cup – AFP

         The famous “remontada” desired and dreamed by the Barcelona players, is remained an illusion. Yet Barça produced what was expected of him. Game, Game and again Game With 75% of possession at halftime, Luis Enrique’s players have stifled their opponents. Problem, this insolent domination too long remained barren. Messi has finally found the flaw after a magical combination including Rakitic and delicious fitness chest Suarez (43 ‘, 1-0). But Barcelona had already missed too many opportunities. These include, jumble, a typing Pedro (6th), a free kick from Messi (31 ‘), and especially a revival rejected by the crossbar Piqué (7th).
       

         Close to opening the scoring, the central defender has precipitated the fall of his. Completely out of it a dangerous shot from Aduriz, who seemed offside on the opening of his teammate, the Spanish international came screaming face of a linesman (56th). No doubt he was too harsh words. The referee does not hesitate in any case and expelled Pique.
       

Gerard Pique faces the referee during the match between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao – AFP

         At 10 against 11, in front of Basque players very well organized and effective in pressing, the Catalan became impossible task. Barça players had some bursts in the image of the huge opportunity in the next action Pedro (57th) or the recovery Rakitic who grazed the frame (59). By making both players out for Sandro and Mounir (68th), Barça showed he no longer believed a lot.
       

         There is no thought at all when Aduriz, a fitness head De Marcos, found the flaw despite a first rebound off Claudio Bravo (74th). Already author of a hat-trick in the first leg, Bilbao striker sounded the death knell of the Catalan dreams. Expulsion from teammate Mikel Sola (86th) nothing changed and is more of an anecdote than anything else. Defeated in May on the Camp Nou in the final of the Spanish Cup, the Basques came to win their first trophy their executioners for 31 years. A title well deserved in view of their performance in the first leg and their capacity Monday night to foil the plans of Barca. A Barca who, but a sixfold, can still make a fivefold.