Germany goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has won the first title of the season with Barcelona. Following last season’s league, cup and Champions League treble, the star-studded team led by Lionel Messi have won the UEFA Super Cup 5-4 in extra-time after a crazy game against Europa League winners FC Sevilla.
Barca cruised into a 4-1 lead during regular time, but it wasn’t until extra time that substitute Pedro found the winning goal for Barcelona in the 115th minute.
Lionel Messi scores two free kicks
Free kick specialist Lionel Messi (7th and 16th), Rafinha (44th) and Luis Suarez (52nd) scored the other four goals for the Catalan club, who could finish the calendar with six titles, with the Spanish Supercup and Club World Cup still to play – a feat last achieved in 2009 under current Bayern manager Pep Guardiola. Having sealed their fifth Super Cup title, Barca are closing in on record winners AC Milan. Sevilla took the early lead through Ever Banega after three minutes and showed incredible fight to equalise from 4-1 down through José Antonio Reyes (57th), Kevin Gameiro (72nd/penalty) and Jewhen Konopljanka (81st). Unfortunately the heroic comeback was all in vain as they sought to emulate their 2006 Super Cup success (3-0 versus Barcelona) and they consequently remain twelve games without a win against the Catalan side.
Both side were on the attack from the get go in front of 54,549 fans in the Boris-Paitscadze National Stadium. Banega put the underdogs in the lead with a delightful free kick, also the quickest goal in a Super Cup history. Ter Stegen could do nothing to keep it out. The favourites, who were without Brazilian star Neymar who is suffering from mumps, were not fazed by the early deficit and hit back soon after through Messi. The Argentinean singled handily turned the game around with two inch-perfect free kicks in the space of nine minutes, something he had not yet achieved in his glittering career.
Ter Stegen helpless despite four goals
Having taken the lead, Luis Enrique’s side exercised more control in the game and Sevilla lost their attacking impetus, inviting Barca to add more goals to the tally. Messi danced around the pitch as the helpless Andalusian’s looked on and it wasn’t long before made it three after a wonderful pass from Suarez.
With UEFA President Michel Platini in attendance, Barca continued their dominance at the start of the second half and indeed appeared to have wrapped things up when Luis Suarez added a fourth. But in an incredible display of resilience, Sevilla exposed the cracks in Barca’s defence and completed the unlikeliest of comebacks. Reyes made it 4-2, once again ter Stegen was powerless to keep it out. Then following the converted Gameiro penalty things became extremely tense. Ciro Immobile, on loan from Borussia Dortmund was brought on with ten to go and made in instant impact, setting up Konopljanka’s equaliser.
In a tense extra time, potentially England-bound Pedro pounced on a rebounded Messi strike to score the dramatic 115th minute winner. Just as on the 90 minutes, Sevilla fought to the death, but this time a comeback proved one step too far.
