adminTBILISI. — Barcelona added the UEFA Super Cup to their treble win of trophies last season despite blowing a 4-1 lead with a stunning 5-4 win over Sevilla thanks to Pedro Rodriguez’s extra-time winner.
Two magnificent free-kicks from Lionel Messi plus goals from Rafinha and Luis Suarez looked to have Barca well on course to claim their fourth trophy of the year after Ever Banega had given Sevilla a shock early lead.
However, Jose Antonio Reyes reduced the arrears before a Kevin Gameiro penalty and a debut strike from Yevhen Konoplyanka forced the game into an extra 30 minutes.
Barca weren’t to be denied, though, and, in what could be his last game for the club, Pedro pounced on the rebound after Beto had denied Messi his hat-trick.
Pedro had been controversially left out of the starting line-up despite the absence of Neymar due to the mumps as he appears set for a move to Manchester United after Barca technical secretary Robert Fernandez admitted he has asked to leave the club.
Pedro insists he has not asked to leave Barcelona but admits he doesn’t know if he will stay at the club.
Asked if he wanted to go or not, the winger said: “The answer is no, but it’s complicated for many things.
“It’s not for money, as has been said – which is another lack of respect. It’s a question of continuity, of minutes. I’m an ambitious player. Stay or go, I will always be of this team.
“Robert has made some very unfortunate declarations. I’ve crossed two words with him and he doesn’t know what I’ve been through at the club to talk like that of me.
“I know who I am and I will always be of Barca. Such people shouldn’t speak in this way. I’ve not said what Robert’s said, or at least not how I said it.
“I’m calm, happy and I will always continue giving everything if I continue at this club. Manchester? Yes, there are nice challenges on all sides.
“Today I’m here and I’m happy. And if I go I will go with my head held high having always given everything. These fans and this club are incredible.”
“He deserves it,” Messi said of Pedro’s match-winning contribution.
“The players and the club don’t know what he is going to do. It is his decision, but whatever he does we wish him the best.”
Sevilla made the brighter start and Javier Mascherano was lucky to avoid further punishment after being adjudged to have brought down Reyes on the edge of the area.
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 international teammate Messi would have been proud of.
Unfortunately, for Unai Emery’s men the lead lasted only four minutes as Suarez was blocked by Grzegorz Krychowiak and Messi delicately chipped the ball over the wall into the top corner.
The four-time World Player of the Year’s next set-piece was even more spectacular as he this time fired a free-kick in off the inside of the post to move level with Cristiano Ronaldo card before Gameiro fired home the spot-kick. — AFP.
Online Reporter