Barcelona 2-3 Athletic Bilbao: Spanish Super Cup final, result, summary goals
Barcelona 2-3 Athletic Club: Super Cup final
Messi red card: how many games will Barça star be banned for?
How many games will Messi be banned for?
Athletic eye more silverware
Remember that the 2020 Copa del Rey final is yet to be played and Athletic have their place booked in that too.
Their Basque final against Real Sociedad was postponed due to covid-19 and is now scheduled to be played on 4 April 2021. The idea was that the two sets of fans could pack out a huge neutral venue...but the pandemic is proving harder to shake that first thought.
Koeman speaks post-match
"After so many years in football, Leo knows perfectly well when he is fit to play.
"We talked and he said he was in a good place to start. He has survived the game, gave the maximum, nothing more."
Match winner Williams
Take a look at the stats behind Iñaki Williams. He was a constant threat with his pace but I'm not sure many expected him to pick out a worldy to clinch the trophy.
Spanish Super Cup 2021 Final: who are the top historical scorers of the tournament?
Super silver lining
Despite being this year's runners-up, Barcelona star Messi can stil breathe easy with his goalscoring record in the competition.
It may take a while for that particular haul to be caught.
Leo Messi shown red card in Spanish Super Cup final against Athletic
Messi sees red
If you, like me, were wondering how many times Lionel Messi had been sent off in his Barcelona career, you'll also want to read this.
Scenes? You want to see scenes?
Athletic Club are happy to fulfil your wishes.
If I can get some footage of Marcelino on the full-time whistle I'll share that too. His joy on the touchline will almost certainly make you smile.
Barcelona magnanimous in defeat
A message of congratulations on their social media account came quickly after the final whistle.
Just look what that means
Some people downplay the importance of winning trophies like this, but you try telling that to those proud Lions.
Barça 2-3 Athletic: a reflection
What a game. What an end. And what a winner.
Barcelona may count themselves unlucky to have conceded a goal in the dying seconds of the game, but across the piece Athletic Club were worthy champions.
That strike from Williams in extra-time will be on a loop for all red and white fans, truly a magnificent way to clinch victory in a final.
Messi was brought back into the side, clearly not 100%, and was not able to work his magic this time. He did play a major role in the first goal, and then almost scored a peach of a free-kick. But the Argentine will be making headlines for what happened in minute 120.
Something that stood out for me was the Athletic players' huddle before and in between extra-time. Barça players didn't appear to have that same camaraderie.
FULL-TIME:
ATHLETIC ARE SPANISH SUPER CUP CHAMPIONS
Peep, peep, peeeeeep!!!! That's it over.
MESSI IS OFF!! Gil Manzano runs across the check the screen for himself and comes back to brandish the Argentine with a red card.
Not the final he was hoping for.
VAR involved! And Messi could be in big trouble, appearing to swing an arm at Villalibre off the ball. Let's see...
CHANCE!! Morcilla with a fabulous run from the half way line gets him facing up with Ter Stegen. Instead of shooting he attempts to roll the ball across to Villalibre but it's cut out.
That would have been that!
A Barça corner comes to nothing and then Athletic try again to take the pace out of the game.
So far it's been working, and the Catalans are struggling to make anything count.
Araújo is all over Villalibre but Alba protestations at the foul being given means he sees yellow.
CHANCE!! Griezmann is in plenty space and just has to connect cleanly with the volley. We're still looking for the ball.
What a hat-trick that could have been.
CLOSE!! Almost an own goal for Athletic as the defensive header to a free kick bounces just wide of the post. Barça players thought it was in.
Villalibre and Morcillo both into the book for obvious fouls
Puig, Braithwaite and Griezmann try to open up a packed Athletic penalty box but are struggling to do so.
Then a blatent foul on De Jong is penalised as the Lions look to do anything to hold onto this lead.
After a quick change over, Barça again try to get something going, not that they've been able to build up any real period of pressure throughout this game.
A long, hopeful ball forward is gratefully received by Simon, who's in no rush to release.
Barça change: Trincão on for Lenglet
Athletic change: Morcillo on for Williams
Peeeep! First period ends.
OUCHIE! De Jong and García clash heads and Frenkie needs treatment. I felt that here.
SO CLOSE! Núñez should have scored Athletic's fourth, getting himself onto the end of (another) beautiful dead-ball delivery from Muniain but not connecting. Ter Stegen breathes a huge sigh of relief...as do the non-covering defenders.
Two more examples of Athletic's plan to use up as much time as possible. First Williams, rapidly dropping from fourth to first gear, and then Muniain takes a leisurely trip down the left flank with the ball.
Patient build-up from Barça as they look to find a gap. De Jong and Messi getting themselves involved, with Alba again supporting, but the red and whites are desperate to stop them.
And they do this time.
We've got a player down here, Dani García I think, yes, after what looked like a shove from Messi.
What did I say about running down the clock?
Simon takes a little longer with the back pass this time but it's a bit early to be playing down the clock I'd suggest.
Ricard Puig is also on, as Busquets makes way.
Marcelino decides it's time for Unai Nunez to come on. Martinez trundles off
Picking the ball up on the left angle of the Barça area, the Spaniard lets fly with a powerful curler that has Ter Stegen beaten all ends up and bounces in off the far post. Make sure you see that one! A cracker.
Braithwaite looks keen to make his fresh legs count. He's chasing down defenders as best he can.
OK. Extra-time first period starts now...
Peeeep!!! The whistle blows and extra time awaits us...
The corner did cause some difficulty for the Barça players to clear, but clear they did.
And from that the counter attack was on...well, before Messi was deliberately fouled to stop it.
Corner to Athletic. They couldn't could they?
We've got three minutes added.
Muniain again with a great delivery from the free kick wide on the right and Villalibre, definitely timing his run legally, fires home. Poor covering from Barça, great finish.
Koeman turns to his bench:
Braithwaite and Pjanic ON
Dembélé and Pedri OFF
He'll be hoping to see this out now
Athletic clearly throwing plenty players forward as the clock ticks down but are leaving themselves at risk of being caught on the counter.
It's a cup final though, so what else do you do? #allornothing
Lovely move from Barça sees the ball switch quickly between Dembélé, Griezmann, Messi and finally De Jong.
The Dutchman's dangerous looking pass across goal is brilliantly anticipated by Simon who stretches out a leg to block. That could have been that.
Lekue replaces Balenziaga with not a lot of time left.
It's a foul from Muniain in the middle of the park and that stoppage gives Marcelino a chance to make more changes...
Changes for Athletic:
Berenguer and Vesga ON
Capa and Raul Garcia OFF
CHANCE!! Raúl García had a chance to draw his side level immediately just as in the first half. His strike on the turn has plenty of ooomph, but he's well under it and Ter Stegen points to the sky.
Alba once again involved in the goal, playing a slick one-two with Dembélé before firing a low cross for the French striker to angle home. Lovely work.
Quarter of an hour for someone to find a winner...or we're going to extra-time.
Nice hold up play from De Jong, and then he releases the overlapping Mingueza perfectly to allow space for the cross. Simon gets to it first to tidy up.
Messi and Muniain getting stuck into this.
A couple of minutes to watch the Catalan side build up play in the final third, asking more serious questions of the defence. Messi drops deep again, as four other attacking players move past him, and he picks out Dembélé who attempts to take on his covering player. He can't.
Dani García goes into the book for a less-than-friendly challenge, not his first of the day.
CLOSE!! Williams is the one who hits the final drive, just wide, but the play before that, including smart thinking from Muniain and great dribbling from Capa, had Barça chasing shadows.
Athletic the better side at the moment.
Mingueza, Griezmann and De Jong work between themselves to try and force something on the right side of Athletic's penalty area. Once again they're repelled.
Araújo does brilliantly to stop Williams from getting away, when it appeared there was enough grass in front of him to create something.
HOLD! VAR is having a look at a possible offside...
DISALLOWED!! García was indeed just edging into the play when the ball left Muniain's foot.
GOOOOOAAAAAALLL!!!!! Raúl García rises to meet the delivery and heads home. Great cross, great header.
Now it's Muniain's chance to cause some damage from a free-kick. It's much wider than Messi's so will be flung into the mixer...
VERY CLOSE! Messi sets up a free-kick around 25 yards from goal after a foul by Dani García.
The two-man wall splits apart perfectly for his curling dipper and Simon appears calm as he watches is bounce an inch or two past the near post. He'll will be glad he's wearing black shorts.
Speedsters mimicking. In the space of a few seconds we just saw Dembélé and then Williams each have an opportunity to make something happen with their pace.
Both fluffed their lines disappointingly.
Williams back involved with a couple of threats in quick succession. The first sees him caught offside but in the second he is able to work the ball to García who fires in an effort from distance.
It was nothing for Ter Stegen to fret about.
Muniain tries to get away from Mingueza but the fresh legs of the young Spaniard wrap themselves enough around him and bring him down.
Immediately Messi wants to get involved and as he tries to dribble away on the left he's manhandled by Capa and wins a free-kick.
The dead ball is lifted into the area but none of his teammates can get on the end of it.
Barça with a substitution: Oscar Mingueza is on for the young American, Dest.
OK, the players are out of the tunnel and ready for action. Just having a quick look around at the sides to see if any changes in personnel...
Head-to-head
These two sides have played each other 57 times since the turn of the century, and Athletic have won just eight of those.
The Lions are more than in this one tonight, although it will be initeresting to see if/when either side starts to edge the game towards a penalty decider. I'd suggest neither want to have to go for another 30 minutes sso will chase down goals in the 90. Overly optimistic? We're about to find out...
Head-to-head
These two sides have played each other 57 times since the turn of the century, and Athletic have won just eight of those.
The Lions are more than in this one tonight, although it will be initeresting to see if/when either side starts to edge the game towards a penalty decider. I'd suggest neither want to have to go for another 30 minutes sso will chase down goals in the 90. Overly optimistic? We're about to find out...
Barça 1-1 Athletic: half-time musings
What an end to the first 45. Two goals in two minutes keeps the sides level and based on the play we've seen I'd say that was fair.
The team from Bilbao have given as good as they've taken, and Marcelino will be a happy manager right now.
Williams has been a constant threat to the blaugrana defence, running at them with the ball, or targeting the space behind them to latch onto a pass. That said, he was the provider of the equalising goal with a perfectly angled pass.
Barça, for their part, have found it hard to break down an organised opponent - having similar problems to Madrid in the semis - but can thank the Messi-Alba combo for their goal, with Griezmann getting into the right space to finish off.
Peeeeeep! There's the whistle. Into the changing rooms
More danger for Barça's backline as Williams runs at them, lays off to Raúl García, and he in turn to Muniain...
The cross is then met by García again but he's at full stretch and it's over and wide.
No sooner had we kicked off that we're back to all square. A delightful ball from deep lifted into the space in front of Ter Stegen from Williams, and De Marcos slips in front of Alba to tap home. Lovely stuff.
Messi and Alba combined as they have done hundreds of times before but the block allows the ball to run loose...and the Frenchman strokes it home.
Chance! Raúl García in the danger area rises to meet a cross but can't get high enough to keep it down.
CLOSE! Messi's had enough of this lack of goal action and tries his luck from distance.
It's not a bad strike but was always heading over the bar, and Simon seemed pretty calm about it once he sensed that too. Maybe just a range-finder from the Argentine...
Messi takes a wander out to the right and considers how he and De Jong may be able to create something. There's just not a lot of space there and nothing comes of it.
Lovely play from Barça's French winger on the right again, turning Balenziaga, skipping down to the byline before crossing. The last element of the move didn't live up to expectations and Simon catches it with ease.
Dembélé whips a decent ball into the area - it truly is back and forth at the moment - and Messi is sniffing around it dangerously. Athletic defenders are plentiful, however, and get rid quickly.
Busquets won't get away with many tackles (collisions) like he just handed out there. No card though.
Following the foul, Williams is off running onto a through ball once again but trips Lenglet mid-sprint and the whistle blows.
CLOSE! Straight down the other end and Capa lets rip from inside the area.
It's going just over the crossbar but Ter Stegen takes no chances and flies up to touch over. We should have a nice photo of that save later.
CLOSE! It's a lovely inswinging ball in from the number 10 and Araujo just can't stretch out a toe far enough to tap in.
Silly foul from Muniain gives Messi an opportunity to cause some mischief with his delivery. Let's see...
Great interplay from Raúl Garcia just inside the opposition half ends with him playing in Williams who is well held up by Lenglet.
Almost a very good chance to set up a teammate but the defence closed ranks quickly. Corner won but nothing comes of it.
A long diagonal from De Marcos as Athletic look to mix things up and get Barça on the back foot. It's overhit but there's a sense that - as Marcelino said pre-match - these Lions are right up for this one.
Some more attacking play from Athletic as Balenziaga is sent scampering down the left wing, just managing to keep in the ball.
He centres it well but it's the blaugrana defence that mops up without too much difficulty.
Messi is generally playing through the middle, and high, in these early minutes but there drops deeper and attempts to feed in his advancing teammates.
Griezmann was the target but it was well intercepted.
Nice idea from the Argentine to drag defenders forward, possibly one from the training ground.
Barça again try to unlock the hard-working red and white machine in front of them. Each time they almost find an opening another Basque shirt seems to fill it.
First yellow and it's for Lenglet.
Williams was looking to turn the after-burners on down the right but the defender didn't like the idea of that and boshed him over.
Free-kick is lofted into the Barça area but well cleared.
First half chance thus far for the Basque side. Williams finds some room in the left-hand channel and has a pop at goal.
It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if his effort had not been deflected by the covering defender but as it was, it trundled through harmlessly to Ter Stegen.
Decent balance to the game so far.
Alba is not happy there as he's shrugged off the ball by Capa. It looked fair enough and the ref agreed. Gotta bulk up Jordi!
Dembélé is almost slid into the space behind a fairly high line from Athletic but he's about a knee offside and the flag is raised quickly.
A horribly loose ball from Griezmann in the middle of the park hands possession to the Lions.
They attempt to find a couple of routes into the Barça area but end up with just a throw in.
The pattern in the semi-final against Madrid for Athletic saw them press high up the pitch then drop back into and organised defensive unit.
Initial exchanges here suggest we may see something similar from Marcelino's men.
Barça get us going and immediately work a number of passes together getting plenty of early touches. That includes at least two or three for Ter Stegen in the first minute.
WE ARE OFF!!
KO moments away
OK, the teams are out and going through the usual handshakes, pennant swapping etc.
We're about to get this final underway. Who's your money on?
Athletic's 2015 survivors
As you will no doubt remember, the Basque side won this trophy just a few years back. And Dermot points out that only two of those players are starting tonight's final.
Super silverware
In case you wondered what Barça and Athletic were battling it out for tonight, here's a glimpse of the shiny cup.
You could definitely get a decent tipple to fill that, although current protocols would probably err against drinking sharing in such a way.
Warm-ups in progress
Both sets of players are going through their paces down on the picth. Shortly they'll head inside for some last words from the managers and then we can get down to trophy-winning business.
SPANISH SUPER CUP | BARCELONA - ATHLETIC
Barcelona-Athletic Bilbao: Marcelino ready for final
Right up for it
'The lads are on fire, they're really up for it. They're going to give everything to win,' Marcelino told a news conference.
'You don't need to motivate the lads, they're on the verge of winning a trophy by knocking out both Real Madrid and Barcelona in the two games you play, which would be... I was going to say good, but it would be absolutely incredible.'
Messi-dependecia?
It's a commonly-used phrase whenever Barça are having problems - or even just when they're doing well but he's the goal protagonist - but just how much do the Catalan side miss him?
For the answer to that, we asked our friends across at sofascore.com and they delivered.
Clearly any team in world football would have loved to call upon the genius of Leo Messi over the last decade plus, but as you can see from the stats, Barça still tend to do pretty well when he's unavailable. (He has tended to play in most games!)
Team line-ups: Barcelona
The biggest question that Ronald Koeman has faced since squeezing through that semi-final is whether or not his Argentine talisman would be fit enough to play.
The boss was clear when he said that he wouldn't even consider playing his number 10 if it wasn't a final...and that suggests that the man we see tonight is not going to be at 100%.
Could Athletic take advantage of that? Or will the magic in his boots be the deciding factor? We'll soon know...
Athletic XI: Simón, Capa, Yeray, I. Martínez, Balenziaga, De Marcos, Dani García, Vencedor, Muniain, Raúl García, Williams
Barça XI: Ter Stegen; Dest, Araújo, Lenglet, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Dembélé, Messi, Griezmann.
Right, it looks as though we have team news coming through...big question for both sides: will Lionel Messi be starting?
Real Madrid 1-2 Athletic Club: Spanish Super Cup result, summary and goals
How they got here: Athletic Club
Many, including some authorities may I hasten a guess, had their fingers crossed for a profile-raising Clásico final this year. But the Lions had other ideas.
Despite having much of the play, Los Blancos were unable to kill the game off and instead had to throw the kitchen sink at their opponents in the closing stages as they searched for an equaliser.
Here's me telling how that wasn't to be...
Real Sociedad 1-1 Barcelona (2-3 penalties): result, summary and goals, Spanish Super Cup 2021
How they got here: Barcelona
No doubt your were following our live coverage of the Super Cup semi-finals and so you'll all ready know everything about what happened with these sides.
If not, let me tell you that it was an exciting affair as Real Sociedad pushed Barça all the way through extra-time to penalties before bowing out.
Here's how the excellent Rob Train talked you through that match.
Basque pride
Likewise, we've had some footage of the Athletic boys heading towards the final. A decent handful of Basque supporters seeing them off too.
Cup final final journey
The Barça social media team gave us a quick glimpse earlier of their heroes making their trip in Seville.
Barcelona vs Athletic Club: welcome
Hello and a cordial welcome to everybody joining us at AS English for this match-up between two historic clubs in Spain.
It may not be the biggest prize on offer when the season begins, but silverware is silverware, and both Barça and Athletic are already eyeing up that trophy.
Let's get the build-up underway and the team news won't be far away.