Messi stars as Barcelona beats Sevilla 5-4 in Super Cup

Barcelona play Sevilla in the European Super Cup on Tuesday.

Barca ran out 3-0 winners at Camp Nou thanks to goals from Neymar, Ivan Rakitic and Lionel Messi ” who was perhaps fortunate to escape sanction for an apparent headbutt on Roma defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. “We want this team to really go for victory whatever the circumstances”, he said.

Although there are some injury doubts for Sevilla, ahead of the game on Tuesday night, Iborra pointed out: “We have to overcome the obstacles we know we have, because we have a good enough squad to do that”.

The punishment was still to come for the European champions, though, as Banega clinically curled the resulting free-kick past the helpless Marc-Andre Ter Stegen with an effort his worldwide teammate Messi would have been proud of.

Rafinha slotted home a Luis Suarez pass just before the break and the Uruguayan scored himself after the restart having been found by Sergio Busquets to put Barca firmly in command.

Emery’s men then mounted an unlikely-looking fightback as Reyes side-footed in, Vitolo won a penalty in a tussle with Jeremy Mathieu that was converted by Gameiro, and Konoplyanka swept in fellow substitute and summer signing Ciro Immobile’s delivery.

Next up is the Spanish Super Cup against Atheltic Bilbao on Friday and Monday, before the Club World Cup in December.

Barcelona open the defence of their league title back in Bilbao on Sunday, 23 August.