Athletic Bilbao have clinched the Spanish Super Cup for the first time since 1984 after holding Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in their second-leg clash at the Nou Camp.
With the visitors leading 4-0 from the first leg at the San Mames, the odds were stacked against the Blaugrana, who needed a blistering start to unsettle their opponents.
They very nearly enjoyed a dream opening to the game, with both Pedro and Gerard Pique finding the woodwork within the first six minutes.
Bilbao contained Luis Enrique’s charges very well throughout the first half and very nearly opened the scoring on the night in the 40th minute when Javier Eraso burst into the box and fired into the side netting.
It was Barcelona who drew first blood, however, as Ivan Rakitic’s ball into the area on the stroke of half time was chested down by Luis Suarez into the path of Lionel Messi, who hammered home from six yards.
The hosts needed a perfect second half in order to try and claw the tie back, but they were left with a mountain to climb after Gerard Pique was shown a red card for dissent.
Despite this, Barcelona continued to press their opponents and were able to register a number of chances, but the outcome of the tie was all but confirmed when Aritz Aduriz was left unmarked to fire past Claudio Bravo.
There was still more drama to come as substitute Kike Sola was dismissed with four minutes to go for standing on Javier Mascherano, but it wouldn’t dampen the visiting contingent’s mood as the final whistle confirmed their trophy win.
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