Skip to main content

Barcelona 1 Athletic Bilbao 1 (1-5 agg): No Camp Nou miracle as Basques clinch trophy

Athletic Bilbao stifled any Camp Nou miracles to earn a 1-1 draw with Barcelona and secure the Supercopa de Espana – their first trophy since 1984.

A sensational 4-0 first-leg thrashing - inspired by Aritz Aduriz's hat-trick - at San Mames set up Athletic's triumph, and Ernesto Valverde's men showed a resolute side to their game in the face of intense pressure, before Aduriz again stole the spotlight with a late equaliser on the night.

The hosts did eventually find a way through just before the break as Lionel Messi rounded off a trademark Barca move, but Pique's red card saw their hopes go up in smoke.

Fully aware of the huge task that lay ahead of them, Barca were quick out of the blocks and went agonisingly close to drawing first blood with just six minutes gone, but it proved to be a case of right place, wrong man, with Pique guiding Pedro's low cross on to the crossbar from close range.

Barca's intensity and aggressive approach was a sign of things to come as Luis Enrique's men unsurprisingly monopolised possession, but in their way stood a sturdy and rigid Athletic defence, boosted by the return of Aymeric Laporte.

And Barca capitalised on that let-off soon after, as Luis Suarez chested down Ivan Rakitic's cross and Messi coolly swept home.

But the away side were given reason to cheer just a minute later, as Pique confronted the referee's assistant for seemingly failing to spot an offside and the Spain defender swiftly received his marching orders.

And the visitors put the trophy beyond Barca's reach in the 74th minute, as Aduriz calmly slotted in the rebound after Bravo saved his initial effort.

Sola's late dismissal did little to dampen Athletic's mood, though the party atmosphere was not shared by many in the Camp Nou stands as Barca's chances off securing a sextuple of titles was swiftly put paid to.