Former
Liverpool defender Mikel San Jose netted from the halfway line and Aritz
Aduriz scored a hat-trick as Barcelona lost the first leg of the
Spanish Super Cup 4-0 to all but end hopes of winning six out of six
trophies in 2015.
Manchester
United target Pedro was in the starting line-up but couldn’t prevent an
understrength team being soundly beaten at a rainswept San Mames.
United’s
apparent reluctance to pay Pedro’s €30m buy-out clause has left
Barcelona exercising their right to wait until the end of the window to
close the deal. On Tuesday in the Uefa Super Cup in Georgia the tactic
had been to leave him fuming on the bench, last night he started but
probably wish he hadn’t as Barca looked a shadow of the team that edged
past Sevilla in extra time.
Lionel Messi is the picture of
dejection after Athletic Bilbao shocked Barcelona, putting four goals
past them in the Spanish Super Cup
Athletic Bilbao's defender Mikel San Jose points to the heavens after scoring an incredible goal to put the underdogs ahead
Luis Suarez cannot believe what he has seen as Bilbao celebrate taking a shock lead with San Jose's brilliant long-range strike
Aritz Aduriz heads past Marc-Andre ter Stegen as Athletic Bilbao doubled their lead just a short way into the second half
Ter Stegen was beaten again by the
same man just a few minutes later, with Aduriz scoring a second-half
treble to sink the La Liga champions
Aritz Aduriz is congratulated by his
team-mates after netting from the spot to complete his hat-trick, as
Bilbao shocked Barcleona
After
that energy-sapping 120 minutes Barca coach Luis Enrique left Gerard
Pique, Sergi Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic out of his
starting line-up. With the team already missing the injured Jordi Alba
and mumps victim Neymar it was too much against a strong Athletic side
who were in front in spectacular fashion after 13 minutes.
German
keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen headed clear from outside of his area
after Athletic keeper Gorka Iraizoz had sent a long punt down field.
Barca like their goalkeepers to be able to play outside their area but
Ter Stegen was embarrassed as his header dropped to San Jose in the
centre circle and after taking one touch to control the ball he sent a
shot back over the keeper’s head to make it 1-0.
San
Jose joined Liverpool from Athletic Bilbao in 2007 but despite
impressing in the reserves never made it at Anfield and ended up back at
the club where he went on to reach the Spain team. He will not have
scored a better goal than last night’s and it set the tone for the rest
of the game.
Without
their entire first choice midfield Barça were over-run in the middle of
the park and managed only one first half shot on goal from a Leo Messi
free-kick won by some direct running from Pedro. With the last piece of
action in the first 45 minutes Messi’s effort was tipped over by
Iraizoz.
Pedro
had generally toiled without reward and been booked for a challenge on
Markel Susaeta – one that would never have resulted in a caution in the
Premier League.
In
the second half the Spain winger rattled the bar after capitalising on a
mistake by Aymeric Laporte and shortly afterwards Luis Suarez teed up
Messi but Iraizoz got down well to his right to make the save.
Manchester United target Pedro runs at
Markel Susaeta and Oscar de Marcos as Barcelona found themselves
needing to come from behind
Messi looks to inspire his side during a frustrating first half in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Bilbao
There
were Barca’s best chances of the second half and once they were missed
Athletic stepped up a gear and put the game out of sight.
First
Aduriz powered in a header after Sergio Roberto had lost possession and
allowed Sabin Merino to cross. Then Dani Alves and Thomas Vermaelen
were left stranded as Susaeta’s pass was turned in by Aduriz who then
completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Alves had fouled
Xabier Etxeita.
Luis
Enrique brought Iniesta and Rakitic on in the second period for Rafinha
and Roberto and Pedro made way for Sandro on 70 minutes but their was
no way back for Barcelona forced to make too many changes after their
duel with Sevilla four days earlier.
They
now have just three days to prepare for the second leg at the Nou Camp
on Monday when only an extraordinary result – even by their standards –
will revive their chances of winning the league, Champions League, Kings
Cup, Super Cup, European Super Cup and World Club Cup in the same year.
Gorka Iraizoz comes out to deny Luis Suarez as the former Liverpool man tries to round the home keeper and bring his side level
Mikel Balenziaga ushers the ball away from Messi as the home defence looked to minimise the impact of Barcelona's best player
Tags
SOCCER