Established 1961 Sport

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021 Bilbao stun Barca to win Spanish Super Cup

Messi sees red • Koeman misses chance of first trophy with Catalans

MADRID: Lionel Messi was sent off for Toral, who only took over as coach less the first time playing for Barcelona as than two weeks ago. Athletic Bilbao stunned the Catalans to But there was praise too for his pred- win the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday, a ecessor Gaizka Garitano, who oversaw dramatic final finishing 3-2 after extra- this team reaching the Copa del Rey time. Moments before Bilbao’s momen- final last season, which earned qualifica- tous triumph was confirmed, Messi tion in the first place. “This is for Gaizka threw an arm at Asier Villalibre, who had Garitano and his coaching staff as well earlier scored a 90th-minute equalizer who brought us here,” said Williams. in normal time to deny Barca victory. Organizers at the Spanish Football Antoine Griezmann’s double looked to Federation might have hoped for the have sealed the trophy but Villalibre global attraction of a Clasico, especially intervened before Inaki Williams’ fabu- as the coronavirus pandemic had lous strike three minutes into extra time already kept the tournament in Spain proved decisive. rather than the lucrative Saudi Arabia, Messi shook off a thigh problem to where it was played last year. start in Seville and was required to play Yet this was a frantic final, with a all 120 minutes as Barcelona attempted hugely surprising result. Barca arrived to take the game to penalties. Instead, on the back of a nine-game unbeaten the 33-year-old lost his temper at the run and a trophy, even a minor one, end of a combative contest, reacting to would have turned encouraging signs in a late challenge from Villalibre by swip- recent weeks into more tangible evi- ing his hands across the back of his dence of a revival under Koeman. opponent. “It is not a step back,” he said. It meant a first ever red card for “Always winning titles is helpful to show Messi in 753 appearances for Barcelona, that we are on the right track, but it is to go with his two reds for Argentina in only one game, it is a Super Cup, and we 2005 and 2019. “After so many years in will show in the next few games that we SEVILLE: In this handout picture released by RFEF (Spanish Royal Football Federation) Athletic Bilbao players celebrate after winning the football, Leo knows perfectly well when are on the right track.” Spanish Super Cup final football match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club Bilbao at La Cartuja stadium in Seville on Sunday. — AFP he is fit to play,” said Barca coach Bilbao were the better side in the first Ronald Koeman. “We talked and he said half, more decisive in possession and Marcelino hurled his water bottle to the struck again, Alba’s cross evading the the striker cutting inside from the left he was in a good place to start. He has more aggressive out of it. But both ground in disgust but his team were Bilbao defense and finding the and whipping a tremendous shot into survived the game, given the maximum, teams created little for 40 minutes and soon level. Frenchman, who steered in at the the top right-hand corner. nothing more.” then in two minutes both had scored. A Williams played the pass, his clipped front post for what looked like the Unai Nunez might have sealed it but Messi’s anger will take some of the brilliant pass created each of them, ball over the top catching Alba off- winner. Instead, Bilbao scored in the failed to connect. Griezmann almost res- limelight away from Bilbao, who had Messi the instigator for Barca. guard, with Oscar De Marcos sneaking 90th minute to send the game to cued it but fired high on the volley with already denied the competition a He collected from the right and in and half-volleying home. Raul Garcia extra-time and then the 93rd to lead his right foot. Then Villalibre left a Clasico final by beating Real Madrid in threaded through for Jordi Alba on the thought he had his third goal in four for the first time. shoulder in on Messi, who reacted, scut- the semi on Thursday and now have left, whose cut-back was intended for days when he headed in just before the Villalibre was allowed to volley in tling after his opponent and swinging an completed the set. It means a title and the Argentinian but spilled out to hour but Barca survived. from close range but there was little arm around the back of his head. Messi the perfect start for Marcelino Garcia Griezmann, who could not miss. With 10 minutes left, Griezmann Barca could do about Williams’ effort, and Barca were beaten. — AFP