Supercopa de España 1st leg: Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Barcelona started the new season with a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup at Camp Nou. After a dull first half, things went nuts in the final period with many goals, many scoring chances, many refereeing mistakes, and a hilarious red card. Madrid take a vital advantage into the second leg, but Barça still have a (small) chance.

FIRST HALF

The first half was quite balanced, with Barça having most of the possession but having to be patient to find spaces inside a tight Madrid defense. The Blancos sat back and stayed compact, looking to hit the Blaugrana on the counter and create chances that way. Gareth Bale had a great opportunity in the only fast break Real managed to put together, but Ter Stegen made a very good save.

Barça had a few dangerous chances with Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi and the Blaugranalooked very good in possession at times, but Keylor Navas never had to make a real save.

At halftime, not the greatest game in history, but a very even affair in the first 45 minutes.

SECOND HALF

The final period started in horrible fashion for the Blaugrana, who went a goal down when Gerard Piqué deflected a cross from Marcelo into his own net to put Madrid ahead. Barça had to go forward in search of an equalizer, and they got it when Luis Suárez won a penalty. It was a dive, but the referee saw a foul in the box and gave Barça a spot kick. Messi easily beat Navas and tied the score.

Madrid went ahead just three minutes later, however, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational goal to finish off a great counter-attacking sequence. Barça had 10 minutes to find another equalizer. Ronaldo was sent off for a second yellow card, which gave Barça the chance to attack against 10 men for the rest of the match.