|
| Sevilla 0-2 FC Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup 2016 |
FC Barcelona are 90 minutes away from registering their first title of the 2016/2017 after they defeated Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla side 2-0 in their first leg tie of the Spanish Super Cup, thanks to second half goals from Luis Suarez and Munir El Haddadi.
Luis Enrique named an expected starting lineup bar the starting of Jeremy Mathieu over Lucas Digne at left fullback. The French defender couldn’t play much after he was brought off the pitch on 25 minutes with a hamstring injury.
Mathieu’s injury happened after Barça came close to getting the opener as early as the 6th minute. Luis Suarez found himself one on one with Sergio Rico after beating his marker somehow, but the Uruguayan’s shot was superbly aged by the Sevilla goalkeeper in a chance that should have changed the score line.
Things went from bad to worse minutes later as captain Andres Iniesta became the second Barça player to leave the pitch with an injury after he picked up a knock to his knee on 35 minutes, he was replaced by new signing Denis Suarez. There was no major real chance for both sides in a cagey affair as the first half ended 0-0.
The second half started with Barça coming stronger than they were in the first. Suarez came close to scoring but got his name moments later and it was a beautiful one. A wonderful lob pass from substitute Denis Suarez found Arda Turan in the box and the Turk chested the ball down in the path of Luis Suarez, the striker unleashed a bullet past Sergio Rico to get Barça’s first goal of the season, his first against Sevilla.
Barça continued the dominance and could’ve gotten their second later on but Sergio Rico was on hand to save a good shot from Sergi Roberto.
Munir El Haddadi came on to replace Arda Turan with 15 minutes left to play and the star killed the game off on 80 minutes. Lionel Messi made a magnificent through ball to cut the Sevilla defence into pieces and set up Munir who side footed the ball into the back of the net in beautiful fashion to make it 2-0. Messi also had a chance to get on the score sheet but Sergio Rico denied the Argentine.
FC Barcelona are now in a very comfortable position to get their 12th Super Cup title as they head into the second leg of the clash on Wednesday at the Camp Nou.