It really makes one wonder how he’s managed to keep it all under control in his 752 club matches all this while in his entire Barca career.
Well, after all the pent-up frustrations, club boardroom scandals, his best mate shown the door and his foiled burofax attempt to leave the Nou Camp end last season, the mercurial Barca talisman finally released the valve on his pressure meter and unleashed a devastating swing. Except that this time it wasn’t with any one of his magical feet – but a right hook with his fist.
In his 753rd match for Barca, Lionel Messi was sent off for the first time in his Blaugrana club career during the match, with the red card shown for violent conduct on Asier Villalibre, an incident that was spotted by the VAR, near the end of the clash.
Antoine Griezmann scored a brace but it was not enough to save the day for the club to win the Supercopa de Espana final as Athletic Club clinched the title with a 3-2 win here on Monday.
Griezmann scored the opening goal of the match, in the 40th minute putting Barcelona ahead. However, the lead lasted for no more than two minutes as Oscar de Marcos netted an equaliser thereafter.
The French national again found the back of the net in the 70th minute with Barcelona again surging ahead taking the lead. Athletic Club’s Asier Villalibre, the same one who had been on the receiving end of Messi’s rabbit punch, levelled the scores in the 90th minute before Inaki Williams scored the winning goal three minutes later.
Barcelona, now Messi-less for the next four games, will next take on Cornella in the Copa del Rey on Friday.