Argentine superstar gets first sending off in Barca shirt as Catalans suffer shock 2-3 loss to Athletic Bilbao in final
A dejected Lionel Messi during Barca's 2-3 defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the Super Cup final. Pic/AFP
Lionel Messi was sent off for the first time playing for Barcelona as Athletic Bilbao stunned the Catalans to win the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday, a dramatic final finishing 3-2 after extra-time.
Moments before Bilbao’s momentous triumph was confirmed, Messi threw an arm at Asier Villalibre, who had earlier scored a 90th-minute equaliser in normal time to deny Barca victory. Antoine Griezmann’s double looked to have sealed the trophy but Villalibre intervened before Inaki Williams’s fabulous strike three minutes into extra time proved decisive.
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Messi shook off a thigh problem to start in Seville and was required to play all 120 minutes as Barcelona attempted to take the game to penalties. Instead, Messi lost his temper at the end of a combative contest, reacting to a late challenge from Villalibre by swiping his hands across the back of his opponent. It meant a first ever red card for Messi in 753 appearances for Barcelona, to go with his two reds for Argentina in 2005 and 2019.
“After so many years in football, Leo knows perfectly well when he is fit to play,” said Barca coach Ronald Koeman. “We talked and he said he was in a good place to start. He has survived the game, given the maximum, nothing more.”
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