Match Report: Friday 25/08/2006 20:45 (GMT +2): European Super Cup Final
FC BARCELONA - SEVILLA FC 0-3 (0-2)

Stade Louis II, Monaco – Attendance: 18.000
Referee: Stefano Farina


Goals:

0-1 Renato (7´)
0-2 Kanouté (45´)

0-3 Maresca, pen. (90´)


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés - Belletti, Márquez, Puyol, Sylvinho (Giuly 71´)) - Xavi (Iniesta 56´), Motta (Gudjohnsen 56´), Deco - Messi, Eto'o, Ronaldinho.


FC Sevilla (4-4-2): Palop - Alves, Navarro, Escudé, David - Navas (Maresca 75´), Renato, Poulsen, Adriano (Puerta 81´) - Luis Fabiano (Martí 46´), Kanouté

Match Report:


It was simply not Barca´s day! Barcelona have failed in their attempt to win a third European Super Cup. FC Sevilla stunned Barcelona with 3-0 victory after a superb performance in Stade Louis II, Monaco. FC Sevillas's counter-attacking tactics paid off and the Andalucians were simply the better side on the day and were worthy winners against a Barça side that failed to match the level achieved in recent matches.


A one-off final is always difficult to play, especially when you fall quickly behind after just a few minutes. It all played very well into the counter-attacking tacticts of FC Sevilla. Unfortunately, in a one-off final there is no additional time to correct any mistakes.


FC Barcelona will be warned that despite their great performances recently, winning further trophies is not that easy. Barca fans will be hoping that this evening's performance was just a one-off display.
Now, we realise again that no team is unstoppable and can be beaten at any time when it just does not go right on the evening. Despite having nearly 63% of the ball posession, Barcelona rarely threatened Sevilla´s goal. Barca´s display was far below expectations and Sevilla were simply outstanding.


FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard left all new signings, Zambrotta, Thuram and Gudjohnsen, on the bench and it was Sevilla that had the better start into the game. Kanouté almost scored already from a header, before Renato put Sevilla into the lead. In the 7th minute, Sevilla´s new signing Christian Poulsen clipped the ball to Brazilian national player Renato who passed the ball to Luis Fabiano in the penalty box. Luis Fabiano´s shot was palmed away by Víctor Valdés, but Renato slid home the rebound from 10 meters. 0-1 down just after a few minutes, the worst possible start for the European champions against FC Sevilla.


After 15 minutes, Barca got better into the game. Deco started to distribute the ball in his usual style and the midfielders were taking control but struggled to find the space to get the ball into dangerous positions. Sevilla closed down their half and defended very well, with captain Javi Navarra organizing superbly his defence line. Several chances had ween produced by Eto´o, Ronaldinho and Xavi but nothing that threatened the Sevilla goal seriously.


With the 1-0 lead in the back FC Sevilla simply sat back, defended and waited for their occassional counter attack, with Mali international and former West Ham and Tottenham striker Kanouté the biggest danger.

But it was a corner that got the tall striker Kanouté his reward, just before the half time whistle. Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdés punched the corner kick away from the area to Jesús Navas, who headed the ball straight back to striker Kanouté, who then easily headed the ball in an empty goal, knowing that Valdés was way off his line. 2-0 and only 45 minutes to play!


Time was running out for Barcelona, but the game did not change at all. Barca coach Rijkaard realised the situation and threw in more attacking power in a bid to rescue the match like they had done against Arsenal in Paris. Iniesta for Xavi, Gudjohnsen for Motta (both 56´) and later even winger Giuly for left full back Sylvinho, leaving just three defenders at the back.


Gudjohnsen had two chances within 5 minutes and could have changed the game but he was not able to deliver on this evening. But it was Sevilla´s Renato who could have sealed victory for his team when his close range header went wide of an empty goal.


Barca pushed forward but nothing was going right on this evening. Messi´s good effort was saved by Sevilla´s goalkeeper Palop. Eto'o was through on goal but was tackled superbly by Sevilla´s captain Javi Navarro in the very last moment. Ronaldinho missed a free kick in his favourite position and Gudjohnsen missed another good chance by putting an easy ball into the left outside of the net.


It was already injury time, when Antonio Puerta went on a run down the left wing, before he cut in on the goal line into the penalty box. Barca captain Carles Puyol followed Puerta and finally brought him down in the box. Not worth arguing about, if or if it was not a penalty. Italian substitute Enzo Maresca hammered the spot kick confidently into the net, leaving Valdés no chance.


0-3 down in the last seconds of the match and it could have become even worth. Puerta was on another run, this time through the middle of the area and dribbled past Barca defenders Marquez, Iniesta and Puyol but failed to finish his excellent effort with a goal.


Comment:
May be the 3-0 victory of Sevilla was to high by 1 or 2 goals, but who cares! The defeat is a serious reality check for the Barça squad after fantastic performances in recent matches. Sevilla were worthy winners on this evening.

The 0-3 scoreline might be a shock for Barca fans and we all would have loved it, if the Barca team would have brought the Super Cup back home to Camp Nou.
But no panic necessary now! It was a bad day and we just have to realise that Barca is not invincible on such a bad day and is not able to win everything.

Remember, the last three weeks the team played every 2-3 days a competitive match.
FC Barcelona was only at 80% of their abillities while Sevilla was at a magnificient 110%.


The Super Cup is history now and on Monday we have the start of the season in Celta de Vigo.


Visca el Barca!

Match Preview: Friday 25/08/2006 20:45 (GMT +2): European Super Cup Final
FC BARCELONA - SEVILLA FC

Stade Louis II, Monaco – Attendance: 18.000
Referee: Stefano Farina


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés - Zambrotta, Márquez, Puyol, Sylvinho - Xavi, Motta, Deco - Messi, Eto'o, Ronaldinho.


FC Sevilla (4-4-2): Palop - Hinkel, Navarro, Escudé, Ruiz - Alves, Poulsen, Maresca, Renato - Chevanton, Kanouté

Match Preview:
The 2006 UEFA Super Cup, the traditional start into the new European season, will be an all Spanish affair and some of the world's greatest names like Ronaldinho Gaucho, Deco and Eto´o, just to name a few, will appear in the Final at Stade Louis II, when Champions League winners FC Barcelona clash with UEFA Cup holders Sevilla FC. Monaco experiences the first time that two clubs from the same country play the final in the principality.


Barcelona enters the final as Champions League winner, Europe's top team, after a 2-1 victory against Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League final in Paris on 17 May.

Sevilla participate as UEFA Cup holders having won the final in Eindhoven 4-0 against Middlesbrough FC a week before.


Both teams have met only once before in one of the UEFA competitions, in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup third round. Barca advanced 4-2 on aggregate.


In the Spanish Championship, the encouter between catalan giants FC Barcelona and Andalucian side Sevilla has got a long history. The two clubs have met 124 times with Barcelona winning 63 and Sevilla 34, with 27 matches ending in a draw. Each team won at home in last season's La Liga gamese (2-1 in Barcelona and 3-2 in Sevilla).


Sevilla are making the first appearance in the UEFA Super Cup, while two-time European champions Barcelona have been six times in the final and are seeking to win it for the third time tonight. If FC Barcelona should win the trophy tonight, they would level the three wins of Liverpool FC and would only be one trophy short of AC Milan, who are recordholder with 4 wins.


The UEFA Super Cup has been chosen as a one-off final in an annually event held in Monaco since the 1998-99 season, when Chelsea FC beat Real Madrid 1-0 on 28 August 1998.


Barça is, without doubt, in fantastic form. Frank Rijkaard's team have already won one trophy so far, the Spanish Super Cup against Espanyol. The performance in both matches against Spanish Cup Winner Espanyol (Thursday/Sunday) and also the 4-0 thrashing of German back-to-back Champions and Cup Winners Bayern Munich during this week, are evidence enough to expect some more outstanding, entertaining display. Still, Barca has to be fully prepared, focused and to go with the necessary respect into the one-off final. Sevilla has got an excellent team and a dangerous attacking line with Chevanton, Luis Fabiano and Kanouté.


Prediction:
Currently Barca plays football from a different planet and therefore, under given circumstances, there can only be one winner at the end of the game. But a one-off final is something special and has got its own rules. It's obviously difficult to come up against another Spanish team, like Sevilla that know Barca very well.

It will be a very interesting game, but Barca should have the confidence and class to overcome a strong Sevilla side. Barca is clear favourites and the best team currently in Europe. The stage is set for a fantastic and exciting match between two top teams. Barca will win at the end.
FC Barcelona vs. Sevilla CF 2-1


Visca el Barca!