Sports
Dembele rises to the challenge as Barcelona lift record 13th Spanish Super Cup (Watch Highlights)
Barcelona battled back to defeat Sevilla 2 -1 and win the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday with French World Cup winner Ousmane Dembele hitting a sensational winner to help give Lionel Messi a winning start as captain .
It was Barcelona ’ s 13 th Super Cup and sixth in the last nine seasons .
However , Sevilla squandered a golden chance to send the match into extra – time when Wissam Ben Yedder missed a last -minute penalty .
Pablo Sarabia gave Sevilla the lead after just nine minutes on a counter – attack .
Gerard Pique , who announced his international retirement with Spain on Saturday , levelled three minutes before the interval for Barcelona after he was fastest to respond to a loose ball following a Messi free -kick .
Watch Highlights below…
That set the stage for French star Dembele to take the headlines with a 78 th minute screamer from 25 yards and again Messi played a crucial role with the key pass.
There was still time for late drama when Barca goalkeeper Marc -Andre Ter Stegen brought down Aleix Vidal in the area as the Sevilla youngster closed in on an equaliser .
But Ben Yedder hit a weak penalty which was easily saved by Ter Stegen .
The match had endured a controversial build – up when Sevilla threatened to file a complaint against Barcelona if the La Liga champions fielded more than three non -EU players .
The Spanish football federation ( RFEF ) said on Saturday that there would be no restrictions on players from outside the EU for the Supercup , despite only three being allowed in squads for league matches .
Sevilla said they could file a complaint if Barca name an “ improper lineup ” in Tangier .
New signings Malcom , Arturo Vidal and Arthur were expected to be Barca ’ s three non – EU players on Sunday , although Brazilian centre – back Marlon also travelled with the squad .
In the end , 21 – year -old winger Malcom , signed from Bordeaux in the summer , was left out of the match day line -up .
Philippe Coutinho has reportedly acquired a Portuguese passport through his wife in the last week , while his fellow South Americans Messi and Luis Suarez are already EU citizens .
Sevilla qualified for Sunday ’ s match as last season ’ s Copa del Rey runners -up , after Barcelona won the league and cup double .
( AFP )
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