David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters
Pedro was the unlikely hero for Barcelona, as the Champions League winners narrowed past Europa League champs Sevilla in a thrilling nine-goal encounter in Tbilisi. Barcelona’s defensive shortcomings were brutally exposed, as Sevilla made a heroic comeback from being 4-1 down to leveling matters at 4-4. Pedro, who is on the verge of completing a move to Manchester United, was introduced in the 93rd minute and went on to score a goal in the 115th minute to win the Catalans the Super Cup for the record fifth time.
Ever Banega stunned Barcelona with a sublime free-kick only 3 minutes in, to hand Sevilla the lead. Lionel Messi replied with a free-kick right out of the top drawer to restore parity. 8 minutes later, the diminutive Argentine almost nonchalantly scored another sumptuous free-kick to turn the tables on their opponents. Rafinha, replacing Neymar who is down with mumps, increased Barcelona’s lead after he poked in Suarez’s pass from close-range, which the Uruguayan quite cheekily slipped through the baffled Michael Krohn-Dehli’s legs. When it seemed it couldn’t get any worse for Sevilla, Luis Suarez worsened Unai Emery’s misery to score his side’s fourth of the evening. Sergio Busquets pounced on Benoit Tremoulinas’ dreadful square pass and quite composedly, passed it to Suarez who fired a low shot past Beto.
Reuters
When it seemed all was lost for Sevilla, Jose Antonio Reyes began his side’s comeback when tapped in Alex Vitolo’s cross at the far post from close range past ter Stegen. Vitolo earned his side a penalty, when he was pulled by Jeremy Mathieu in the box and Kevin Gameiro smashed the ball past the outstretched arms of ter Stegen, to bring his side within touching distance of a glorious comeback. The comeback was completed, when Ciro Immobile punished Marc Bartra for some scrappy defending by sliding a low cross across the box to Konopolyanka, who tapped in the equaliser at the far post to make it 4-4.
Luis Enrique, quite understandably, looked incensed with his team’s defence and introduced Pedro a couple minutes into extra-time in hopes of bolstering his attack. The game was going nowhere in extra-time and penalties loomed near until Mariano tripped Messi just outside the penalty-box. Messi, who had threatened with his free-kicks throughout the game, hit the wall on this occasion and although he managed to take a scrappy shot, Beto had a lunge to keep the ball in play, and Pedro who was the first to reach the loose ball, smashed the ball into the roof of the net to restore Barcelona’s lead, in what could be his last contribution for Barcelona. Adil Rami spurned a chance in the very last minute of extra-time when he headed his shot above the gaping goalpost. The Sevilla players were shocked after the final whistle, after they let the game slip through their grasp, while the Barcelona men, were quite pleased with themselves, after winning their fourth trophy this year.
Chris Brunskill
Football never ceases to amaze us.
Meanwhile in England, Manchester City began their league campaign with a 3-0 thrashing of West Brom away from home.
Tags: Barcelona Sevilla UEFA Super Cup
