Sevilla 1 Barcelona 2: Stunning Ousmane Dembele goal wins the Supercopa as Wissam Ben Yedder misses late penalty

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Standard Sport12 August 2018

Barcelona had to come from behind to claim the Spanish Supercopa in Tangier, with Ousmane Dembele scoring a stunning late winner.

Sevilla had the opportunity to take the match to extra-time after being awarded a penalty with just two minutes of normal time remaining, but Wissam Ben Yedder’s tame effort was parried away by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

For Pablo Machin’s side, the manner of their defeat will have left a sour taste in the mouth in what could have provided the perfect tonic for last season’s brutal 5-0 defeat in the Copa de Rey final.

Sevilla qualified for the Supercopa final despite that humiliation in April as Barcelona went on to secure the Liga title.

And after nine minutes on the clock in Tangier, Sevilla were on course to avenge that defeat.

Sarabia curled home from just inside the penalty area to give them an early lead, and though their celebrations were momentarily suspended as we awaited VAR verification, they were well and truly on the front foot.

Photo: REUTERS
REUTERS

It took until the 42 minute for Barcelona dominance of possession to take its toll, and unsurprisingly Lionel Messi – captaining the side – played a huge part.

His arrowed free-kick Tomas Vaclik beaten in the Sevilla goal, but an unfortunate ricochet off the post – and the back of his head – saw the balls squirm across the box to all Gerard Pique the simplest of opportunities.

And just like that, Barcelona were level.

Photo: REUTERS/Jon Nazca
REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Ivan Rakitic and Philppe Coutinho were introduced in the second half as Ernesto Valverde looked to get the job done, but it would Ousmane Dembele who would provide the telling contribution.

The 21-year-old, it’s fair to say, has failed to pull up many trees since his €105million move from Borussia Dortmund last season, and the French forward was heavily linked with a move away from Camp Nou this summer.

But Barcelona were determined to keep him, and he showed just why with a rasping shot from the edge of penalty area which cannoned in off the crossbar with just 12 minutes remaining.

He would be afforded an applause from the crowd, and subsequent confidence boost, when Valverde replaced him with summer signing Arturo Vidal shortly after to see out the result.

But there would be one final twist in the tale.

Sevilla were awarded a penalty following a foul by Ter Stegen on former Barcelona man Alex Vidal – who arrived from Camp Nou this summer – with just minutes left on the clock.

Substitute Ben Yedder seized the ball, but his effort tamely offered Ter Stegen salvation as the German pushed the ball away.

Barca may not have won with the same ease as they had in April, but the outcome was the same: Valverde’s side claimed the prize.

Starting line-ups

Sevilla XI: Vaclik; Gomez, Kjaer, Mercado; Navas, Mesa, Banega, Escudero; Sarabia, Muriel, Vazquez

Substitutes: Soriano, Gnagnon, Amadou, Aleix Vidal, Ben Yedder, Carrico, Pejino

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Roberto, Arthur, Rafinha; Messi, Suarez, Dembele

Substitutes: Cillessen, Rakitic, Coutinho, Munir, Vidal, Umtiti, Miranda

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