By Andrew Warshaw in Monaco
August 26 – Barcelona picked up yet another piece of silverware to add to their bulging trophy cabinet tonight as they ultimately cruised past nine-man Porto 2-0 to lift the UEFA Super Cup, the annual early-season showpiece between the Champions League and Europa League winners.
It may not have been the most prestigious prize in Barca’s illustrious history but the outcome was never in doubt once Pep Guardiola’s team had survived a bright Porto opening.
Hardly surprisingly, it was the mercurial Lionel Messi who put Barca on their way just before halftime, capitalising on a horrible backpass from Fredy Guarín to coolly slot the ball home.
Porto had their chances to level early in the second half but in stifling heat and humidity they lost their heads late on and had both Rolando and the hapless Guarín sent off, the first for a second caution, the second a straight red.
In between the dismissals, Cesc Fàbregas, Barcelona’s £35 million ($57 million/€40 million) purchase from Arsenal who had only been on the field eight minutes, doubled his team’s lead, brilliantly chesting down Messi’s pass and firing home in the same movement.
It was not always vintage Barca but they were vastly superior over the 90 minutes, showing enough creativity, invention and sublime interplay to suggest they will once again be the team to beat when they begin their defence of the Champions League next month.
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