Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao, for the Spanish Super Cup, live: Messi returns in search of a new title

01/17/2021 3:34 PM

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 01/17/2021 7:11 PM

Barcelona, ​​with the return of Argentine Lionel Messi, will seek this Sunday the first title of the era of the Dutch coach Ronald Koeman when he faces Athletic Club de Bilbao in the final of the Spanish Super Cup.

The game is played at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville from 5:00 p.m. in Argentina, with transmission from DirecTV Sports.

It took almost 37 minutes for Barcelona to kick the goal.

And, of course, it was from Lionel Messi's left-foot: a cross shot that rose in the last few meters to go over the crossbar.

Leo, without spaces, took advantage of the moment he saw some light among the tangle of rivals to test from the outside before the impossibility of penetrating an apparently seamless lock from Athletic.

By that time, the Basques had already had theirs, also with a mid-distance shot from Ander Capa, who finished an attack trying to surprise the always well-placed Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

⚽ GOOOOL OF BARÇA!

⚽ Griezmann did it!

From there the Little Prince does not fail 💫

⏱️ 40 '|

#Barcelona 1-0 # Athletic # SupercopaEnDIRECTV 🏆🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/WjplZBW9jP

- DIRECTV Sports (@DIRECTVSports) January 17, 2021

Those commanded by the Dutch Ronald Koeman could not find the alleys to be able to associate their pieces.

The complication was presented to him from the start.

Messi was too far from the ball located as a false nine and that is why the Argentine had to go back several meters to land in the central circle and be able to offer himself the first pass for the construction of a team without connection between its lines.

The password to enter Unai Simon's area was deciphered by Lionel himself when he disarmed the last adversary line with a good deep pass to climb his side Jordi Alba, who returned the wall with a back pass that Messi failed to connect .

However, there was Antoine Griezmann to capture the orphan ball and make it 1-0.

At last the Catalans managed to penetrate and succeed in foreign territory, a task that cost them throughout the Andalusian night.

But the Barça satisfaction lasted 120 seconds.

Because Bilbao quickly retorted and hit when the Barcelona players were still hugging.

⚽ GOOOOL OF ATHLETIC!

⚽ Immediate reaction!

De Marcos scored the tie 💥

⏱️ 42 '|

#Barcelona 1-1 # Athletic # SupercopaEnDIRECTV 🏆🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/ykCH4Rl7ST

- DIRECTV Sports (@DIRECTVSports) January 17, 2021

Iñaki Williams dominated, raised his head and assisted De Marcos, who appeared like a ghost from Jordi Alba's neglected back and with the inside of his right boot tied the score again.

With Dembelé not unbalanced in the one on one and with the Pedri boy off, La Pulga lacked company to associate near the fire zone.

To top it all, Athletic gave him a great scare with Muniain's free kick that landed on the head of Raúl García and had as its final destination the Barcelona net.

⚽ GOOOOL OF BARÇA!

⚽ Again Griezmann!

French double, after a great combination between Dembélé and Jordi Alba 🔝

⏱️ 77 '|

#Barcelona 2-1 # Athletic # SupercopaEnDIRECTV 🏆🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/uVpGZ11Cu7

- DIRECTV Sports (@DIRECTVSports) January 17, 2021

It was a goal and it was celebrated on the Basque side, but the VAR correctly detected that García's right foot was in an advanced position and the referee annulled what would have been 2-1.

That was like a jolt that woke up those in blue and red.

With the ball under his power, Barcelona began to tread more firmly on foreign ground.

Searching for one side and the other, trying to move his opponent to generate the necessary gaps to go forward.

⚽ GOOOOL OF ATHLETIC!

⚽ Villalibre gives another life to the lions at the last minute!

🦁

⏱️ 90 '|

#Barcelona 2-2 # Athletic # SupercopaEnDIRECTV 🏆🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/0df2UfzrxN

- DIRECTV Sports (@DIRECTVSports) January 17, 2021

Koeman moved chips and switched Dembelé to the left wing.

And there the action of the second goal was born: Mosquito made a good combination with Jordi Alba and the center of the side found a qualified and fine Griezmann to define left-handed.

With a Messi touched without being able to stand out, welcome was the good level of the French for Barcelona.

But...

Garitano reached in and sent Assier Villalibre to the field.

And the striker fulfilled his mission: one minute from the end he evened everything out when he hit a free kick center.

And the nightmare was going to become more terrifying for Messi and company with the spectacular goal that Williams already made in the extension with an exquisite definition after a great team play.

⚽ What a GREAT GOAL from Iñaki Williams, please!

He outlined, aimed and hit the squad directly

🔥🔥🔥 ⏱️ 93 '|

#Barcelona 2-3 # Athletic # SupercopaEnDIRECTV 🏆🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/rc7miwYbrG

- DIRECTV Sports (@DIRECTVSports) January 17, 2021