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UEFA Super Cup | UEFA Super Cup
Aug 11, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
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5-4

Messi (7', 15'), Rafinha (44'), Suarez (52'), Pedro (115')
FT(HT: 3-1)
Banega (3'), Antonio Reyes (57'), Gameiro (72' pen.), Konoplyanka (81')

Match Analysis: Barcelona 5-4 Sevilla

:Headline: Match Analysis: Barcelona 5-4 Sevilla: ID:238789: from db_amp
Sports Mole dissects the action as Barcelona win the European Super Cup in sensational circumstances with a 5-4 extra-time victory over Sevilla.

Pedro scored an extra-time winner as Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-4 to lift the European Super Cup on Tuesday evening.

Sevilla opened the scoring in the third minute through Ever Banega, but two set pieces from Lionel Messi left the Catalan outfit with a 2-1 lead with 16 minutes on the clock.

Barcelona made it three and then four through Rafinha and Luis Suarez either side of the half-time break, but Jose Antonio Reyes cut the deficit to 4-2 in the 57th minute.

Sevilla forward Kevin Gameiro scored his team's third from the penalty spot after 72 minutes and the match dramatically entered extra time after Yevhen Konoplyanka made it 4-4 nine minutes from time.

It appeared that the final would be heading for a penalty shootout, but a late winner from Pedro on what could be his final appearance for Barcelona ensured that Luis Enrique's side lifted the trophy for a fifth time.

Here, Sports Mole dissects the 120 minutes of action between the two Spanish rivals.

Match statistics

BARCELONA
Shots: 24
On target: 10
Possession: 62%
Corners: 8
Fouls: 20

SEVILLA
Shots: 17
On target: 6
Possession: 38%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 21

Was the result fair?

Where on earth to start? In matches such as this, it is always important to take the emotion out of it and analyse what actually occurred for long spells of the game. With that in mind, Barcelona did deserve to emerge victorious in Georgia. One look at the statistics will show that the Catalan outfit dominated all of the major areas - possession, goal attempts and the like - and the fact that the match even entered extra time is quite incredible. In the 52nd minute, Barcelona were 4-1 ahead and absolutely cruising, but Sevilla somehow found a second gear and managed to score three times without reply.

As it transpired, Barcelona were actually holding on in the latter stages and Sevilla also had two glorious chances to make it 5-5 in the final minutes of extra time, but Coke and Adil Rami were both guilty of missed opportunities. It is the type of match that Enrique's side could have won by four or five goals and no-one would have questioned the outcome. Sevilla, especially in the first period, really struggled to make their mark in Georgia, but the fact that they did not concede four or five in the first half allowed them to remain in the match. Critics of the European Super Cup will call the competition purely a pre-season friendly, but the celebrations that ensued after the final whistle painted a difficult picture. While Sevilla's warriors fell to their knees, the entire Barcelona bench ran onto the field. It was just an extraordinary night of European football.

Barcelona's performance

It would be easy to start this section with 'same-old Barcelona'. However, that was not the case last season. Enrique made his team a mean defensive outlet and their record in La Liga and the Champions League suggested that they had turned a corner when it came to conceding goals. Well, that was not on show this evening. In the final 30 minutes, Barca's back four fell apart, with Jeremy Mathieu, Javier Mascherano and Marc Bartra all guilty of defensive mistakes. That said, it is difficult to be too critical of a team that played so exceptionally well for the best part of an hour. They might have fallen behind early on, but two stunning Messi free kicks and a close-range effort from Rafinha saw Barca lead 3-1 at the interval. When Suarez made it 4-1 in the 52nd minute, the game looked over such was their confidence and domination in all areas.

The fact that this team are still preparing for the new season was evident, however, and when their fitness levels dropped, Sevilla, who have played eight pre-season games this summer, got stronger. Reyes's goal - Sevilla's second - should have shocked Barcelona into action, but a poor piece of defensive play from Mathieu handed Sevilla the chance to score a third from the penalty spot, before Bartra was caught out for the game's eighth goal. In the final third, Messi and Suarez were both sensational, but question marks over the Catalan outfit's defending will surface once again following the final 30 minutes. Before the match, it was reported that Pedro had asked to leave Camp Nou this summer and as a result, he was left on the bench despite Neymar's absence. Such is football and its ability to write scripts, however, it was Pedro that came up trumps late on to win the trophy for his team. Enrique's next training session might well involve some defensive drills as he prepares for the new campaign.

Sevilla's performance

Sevilla's preparation for this match was hardly ideal, with a team-bonding BBQ actually proving detrimental as a number of their first-team players picked up a stomach bug. Steven N'Zonzi and Timothee Kolodziejczak were both unavailable for the Europa League winners, while Daniel Carrico and Nicolas Pareja were also on the sidelines, which gave Unai Emery plenty of defensive problems. As a result, he decided on a centre-back pairing of Grzegorz Krychowiak and Rami. However, with the former a central midfielder and the latter also struggling with illness, it was always a big ask. For long spells of the match, Sevilla's back four was left dangerously exposed, which allowed the likes of Messi and Andres Iniesta far too much space. After taking an early lead, Sevilla were very much dominated by Barcelona, who as mentioned, breezed into a 4-1 lead early in the second period and at that point, it looked as if Sevilla were going to take a big hiding from Enrique's team.

After Reyes made it 4-2, however, Sevilla somehow found a second gear. The introduction of Konoplyanka and Ciro Immobile certainly helped, with both players heavily involved in the latter stages. After equalising in the 81st minute, it was Sevilla that looked the more likely to score a fifth in normal time. The match did enter extra time, however, and in truth, not much occurred for long spells. One poor challenge from Mariano allowed Barcelona a free kick, however, which ultimately led to Pedro firing home from close range. Rami and Coke both had excellent chances to take the game into a penalty shootout late on, but neither could find the back of the net from close range. Defensively, Emery will not be pleased with what he saw from his team in Georgia, but in terms of heart and character, he could have not have asked for more. He will also have been delighted to see the likes of Immobile and Konoplyanka come off the bench and make a real difference. It is a second successive European Super Cup defeat for Sevilla, but they can take so much from their second-half recovery.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Lionel Messi: As the scoreline suggests, it was a game to forget for both defences and a game to remember for those in the final third. Once again Messi came to the forefront for Barcelona, with the Argentine scoring two sensational free kicks in the first period and playing a direct role in what proved to be the winner. The forward has hardly played this pre-season following his exertions at the Copa America, but he completed the full 120 minutes here and made such a big contribution for the Catalans.

Biggest gaffe

Usually this section is dominated by one obvious moment, but in truth, there were seven or eight examples of bad defending. Both teams were guilty of lapses of concentration throughout the match, but in terms of importance, Mariano's challenge on Messi just outside the box in the second half of extra time was extremely naive. Messi did not actually score directly from the set piece, but at the second time of asking, his low strike was parried by Beto and finished into the bottom corner by Pedro. It was a poor mistake from the Sevilla defender, who came on for his debut in the 80th minute.

Referee performance

Well, Willie Collum was a very busy man indeed. The 36-year-old had to deal with a number of incidents throughout the 120 minutes, but the Scot must be praised for what was a mature performance. He did not go to his pocket unless it was absolutely necessary and the fact he only issued four yellow cards is credit to his willingness to remain sensitive to the occasion. There were a couple of moments where tempers were raised, but Collum was always in control of the developments.

What next?

Barcelona: On Friday, Enrique's side will travel to Athletic Bilbao for the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

Sevilla: Sevilla open their La Liga campaign away to Malaga on August 21. As it stands, they have no more confirmed pre-season games.

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