Messi delivers Supercup title as Fabregas debuts

Lionel Messi, top, celebrates with Cesc Fabregas after scoring against Real Madrid in the Super Cup final in Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP]

BARCELONA, Spain - Lionel Messi scored a late winner as Barcelona won its 10th Spanish Supercup with a dramatic 3-2 victory over bitter rival Real Madrid on Wednesday that ended with players from both clubs brawling on the Camp Nou pitch.

Messi volleyed Adriano’s cross past goalkeeper Iker Casillas in the 87th minute to finish off a move started by recent arrival Cesc Fabregas, who made his Barcelona debut as a late substitute and helped his new club to a 5-4 win on aggregate in the two-legged series.

But a dramatic, up-tempo match in which Messi scored two goals and Madrid twice rallied to equalize descended into a scrum in injury time as tensions on the hot, humid night reached a climax after Madrid defender Marcelo’s hasty challenge on Fabregas.

Players pushed and shoved each other after the ugly tackle in front of the benches, with Madrid coach Jose Mourinho appearing to put his hand into Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova’s eye during the melee.

After the players and coaching staff were separated and three red cards were brandished, Barcelona lifted its record-equaling third straight Supercup and first in five tries against Madrid.

That gave Pep Guardiola his 11th major piece of silverware, surpassing Johan Cruyff to become the Catalan club’s most successful coach.

Guardiola praised his “mythical’’ players, labeling the victory an “honor’’ and a “privilege.’’

“For a preseason game to be played at this level? That was enormous,’’ Guardiola said. “Even when we won 5-0 against them last year, I never thought we were so superior. It’s always been a very difficult match-up for the history between the clubs.’’

Barcelona displayed all the verve of the beautiful game that guided it to Spanish league and Champions League triumphs last season, while Madrid showed no capitulation after being held to a frustrating 2-2 draw in the first leg it dominated.

“I won’t say we’re not happy about not winning the Supercup, because that would make me a hypocrite. [But] I’m very happy with the evolution of the team,’’ said Mourinho, who brushed off questions about his on-field actions. “The teams are well balanced.’’

Despite Ronaldo nearly putting the visitors ahead in the opening seconds, Barcelona scored first as Messi slipped a perfect through ball for Andres Iniesta to chip over Casillas for the 15th-minute opener as Barcelona’s pinpoint passing - led by playmaker Xavi Hernandez - exploited the space between Madrid’s defensive lines.

Madrid stormed back five minutes later as Ronaldo steered Karim Benzema’s cross beyond goalkeeper Victor Valdes for the Portugal forward’s first goal in his fifth visit to the Camp Nou.

Messi then capped a superb Barcelona move in the 45th minute as Gerard Pique sent a short backheel pass inside the box and into the path of the Argentina forward who continued his run toward the right corner before sending a shot back over Casillas and inside the far post.

Madrid recovered and, soon after Sergio Ramos headed wide, Benzema was in a perfect poaching position to equalize again in the nine minutes from time.

But Messi capped the spectacular and spiteful match with his record eighth Supercup goal to move two ahead of former Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez as all-time leading scorer in the competition.

Fabregas, who joined from Arsenal on Monday for $41 million, was given a lesson in just how fierce games between Barca and Madrid are soon after he came on as Marcelo’s challenge on him earned the Madrid man a red card. Mesut Oezil and Barcelona striker David Villa followed.

AP

한글 관련 기사 [일간스포츠]

메시로 시작해 메시로 끝난 엘 클라시코

리오넬 메시(24·바르셀로나)로 시작해 메시로 끝났다.

FC바르셀로나가 18일(한국시간) 스페인 바르셀로나 누캄프에서 끝난 2011~2012 스페인 프로축구 수페르코파 2차전에서 레알 마드리드를 3-2로 이기고 3년 연속 우승했다. 바르셀로나는 15일 원정 1차전에서 2-2로 비긴 후 2차전에서 이겨 우승을 확정했다. 수페르코파는 전 시즌 프리메라리가 우승팀(바르셀로나)과 국왕컵 우승팀(레알 마드리드)이 맞붙는 대회다.

바르셀로나가 1, 2차전에서 터뜨린 5골은 모두 메시의 발끝에서 나왔다. 메시는 1차전에서 1골·1도움으로 2-2 무승부를 이끌었다. 2차전에서는 2골·1도움을 올렸다. 메시는 이날 경기 전반 15분 침투패스로 이니에스타의 선제골을 도왔다.

레알 마드리드가 5분 뒤 크리스티아누 호날두의 골로 따라붙자 메시가 추가골을 만들어냈다. 그는 전반 44분 헤라드 피케의 힐 패스를 받아 호날두를 따돌리고 오른발 칩샷으로 두 번째 골을 터뜨렸다. 메시는 2-2로 맞선 후반 42분 아드리아누의 크로스를 왼발로 밀어 넣어 우승을 굳히는 결승골을 넣었다.

레알 마드리드는 2차전에서 거친 플레이를 했다. 2명이 퇴장 당했고, 6장의 경고를 받았다. 그러나 메시를 막지 못하고 무너졌다. 호셉 과르디올라 바르셀로나 감독은 2008~2009시즌부터 11번째 우승을 차지해 팀 역사상 최다 우승 사령탑이 됐다.

반면 레알 마드리드의 주제 무리뉴 감독은 돌출행동으로 구설에 올랐다. 그는 후반 7분 바르셀로나 수비수 다니 알베스가 다가오자 코를 막고 손을 흔들며 냄새가 난다는 제스처를 했다. 또 경기 종료 직전 양팀 선수단과 코칭스태프까지 엉켜 몸싸움이 벌어지자 바르셀로나의 코치를 가격하기도 했다.