Spain, at the Barcelona Super Cup. With the Athletic enough 0-0

MADRID – Barcelona won the La Liga Supercup by taking on the Atletico of Madrid thanks to a 1-1 draw away in the first leg. At the Camp Nou, the Blaugrana were blocked at 0-0 and Messi missed a penalty in the 42nd minute by hitting the crossbar. And yet, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino had been able to deploy the duo Messi-Neymar at the same time and in the last 14 ‘Barca played in numerical superiority thanks to the expulsion of Felipe Luis for a foul on Messi, reported by the linesman.

The Barcelona played more and marked a clear territorial superiority, but the Atletico of Diego Simeone was able to defend with order and it was made dangerous several times on the counterattack. Messi appeared very nervous, even for the fouls suffered by anyone who passed near him, and not to the best of his physical condition, a sign that the muscular problems were not resolved despite having rested in the last round of the championship. Neymar has yet to integrate into the Blaugrana game, which at times proved to be less incisive than that played with Tito Vilanova and, above all, Guardiola.

However, Barcelona take home the first trophy of the season, their eleventh Liga Super Cup and respects the tradition in the finals with Atletico (4-1). No regrets, therefore, for President Sandro Rosell, who had to pay the public transport company 30 thousand euros to play at 11 pm for additional night-time services arranged for the meeting.

(29 August 2013)