Pedro Saves Barca’s Blushes

FC Barcelona secure their 5th title in quite extraordinary fashion. The match had everything, free kicks, goals galore, abysmal defending and transfer-listed Pedro coming off the bench to score the winner.

The European Super Cup did not start slowly as an exquisite dead ball strike from Ever Banega put the Europa League winners in the lead on 2 minutes. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was positioned almost on the post which made Banega's job easier. Taking nothing away from the strike his positioning was dubious to say the least.

While goals from dead ball situations are rare to say the least, we were treated to another brace from Lionel Messi to give Barcelona the lead. Similar to Ter Stegen, the Sevilla keeper was almost on the post. For his second, the keeper could not have done anything about. It has been certainly a dead ball masterclass offered up by both sides, too bad we will probably not see another free kick for about another month.

Barcelona dominated the half, blighted by a few counter attacks from Sevilla. Gerard Pique and Jeremy Mathieu were able to pick Ivan Rakitic, Messi and Iniesta out allowing them to turn and run at the defence. Sevilla's midfield needs to do more defensively or else they will ship more goals.

Kevin Gamiero had an excellent chance to level the game on 40 minutes but his scuffed shot couldn't find the back of the net and Iborra couldn't capitalise. On the stroke of half time Suarez beat the offside trap but his shot only found the keeper and rebounded clear. He regathered the ball and centred it for Rafinha to score. Sevilla’s high defensive line was exposed.

After half time, Sevilla hadn't learnt their lesson and Suarez capitalised on a sloppy pass from Benoit Tremoulinas. Sevilla were the makers of their own destruction. However, Jose Antonio Reyes was able to score Sevilla's second and was helped by non-existent marking from the Champions League holders and offered a glimmer of hope to Unai Emery’s side.

Coasting at 4-2, Barca took their foot off the gas. Mathieu found himself on the wrong side of Vitolo and dragged him down inside the box. Kevin Gameiro cooly slotted the penalty home with 19 minutes to go. Barcelona could have been out of sight but Sevilla capitalised on Barcelona's loss of concentration.

The third gave Sevilla confidence and as they pushed more men forward their risk was rewarded after more shoddy defending allowed substitute Immobile to turn Marc Bartra who found Yevhen Konoplyanka for the tap in. I find it hard to believe for a side who was 4-1 up and cruising comfortably for 50 minutes to capitulate and concede 3, but I suppose that is football.

Extra time saw the introduction of Pedro Rodriguez and I suppose it was written in the stars that he would score the winner in what looks like is his last ever appearance for the Catalan side. His 115th minute goal was the exact same time he scored in the 2009 final to beat Shahktar Donetsk. Despite the muted celebrations, his goal won Barcelona their 5thEuropean Super Cup equalling AC Milan’s record with 5.  

A truly magnificent game for the neutrals proved an excellent way to ring in the new season as this season’s curtain raiser. Barcelona have the Spanish Super Cup first leg at the San Mames Stadium while Sevilla have 9 days to patch their defensive woes before they begin the season at Malaga.