Bilbao dumps Messi and Barcelona out of cup final

Messi couldn't rescue Barcelona 

Athletic Bilbao won a first trophy in 31 years as a 1-1 draw

with Barcelona at the Nou Camp secured the Spanish Super

Cup with a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Bilbao won the first leg 4-0 but Barcelona threatened a

comeback with Lionel Messi's close-range finish.

Barca defender Gerard Pique was sent-off after the break

and Aritz Aduriz struck late on to seal it for Bilbao.

The visitors had Kike Sola sent-off late on, but the

celebrations for Bilbao had already begun.

It was ultimately a disappointing display for Barcelona who,

despite plenty of possession, failed to threaten often

enough.

Tough night for Messi and Suarez

After Barcelona's humiliating defeat in the first leg, Athletic

Bilbao knew Luis Enrique's side would be determined to

make amends.

The reigning European champions lined up with Messi, Luis

Suarez and Pedro in attack but the visitors had done their

homework and the trio were well marshalled throughout.

Whenever Messi had the ball, at least two players crowded

round the Argentina international and his inability to get into

the game left Suarez isolated.

Pedro's swan song?

Pedro, a reported target for Manchester United, had

Barcelona's better opportunities in the opening stages but

was unable to make them count.

The forward was full of running but his finishing let him

down when it mattered, most notably when he missed the

ball completely when a corner routine was worked to him on

the edge of the area in the first half.

Pedro failed to find the target with another chance after the

break and was eventually replaced in the 68th minute.

Defensive concerns for Barcelona

Enrique heads into the new season with some concerns at

the back. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was named on

the bench after conceding eight goals in his last two games,

with Chile international Claudio Bravo starting in his place.

Barcelona's attacking intent often left them exposed at the

back, and any hopes of getting the goals they needed ended

when Pique was needlessly sent-off midway through the

second half. The defender angrily remonstrated with the

linesman and the referee produced a straight red.

After a brief spell of Barca dominance, Jeremy Mathieu

gifted possession to Aduriz, leaving the forward one-on-one

with Bravo and, after his initial effort was saved, Aduriz

side-footed home the rebound to put the game beyond

Barcelona.