Barcelona win UEFA Super Cup in nine-goal game in Tbilisi

FC Barcelona have been crowned European football super champions and have lifted their fifth ever UEFA Super Cup trophy after a thrilling victory in extra time in a nine-goal game at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia tonight.

A fantastic game of football between two of the world’s best teams – FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC - was enjoyed by more than 50,000 football fans at Dinamo Arena this evening. 

Victorious FC Barcelona lift the UEFA Super Cup at Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, Georgia. August 11, 2015. Photo from fcbarcelona.com.

We’re the super-champions of Europe! #DRE4M#FCBLivepic.twitter.com/XfZeo7hi3B

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 11, 2015

Tonight’s match was full of surprises that kept players and spectators guessing; three minutes into play Sevilla kicked a penalty and were first on the scoreboard. It was the fastest ever UEFA Super Cup goal. Shortly after Barcelona’s Lionel Messi stepped up and buried two free-kicks inside eight first-half minutes bringing FC Barlcelona up 2-1. 

The tough competition continued and Barcelona players Rafinha (Rafael Alcantara do Nascimento) and Luis Suarez made it 4-1. But Sevilla did not give in to defeat and slowly clawed back the goals to 4-all.

As the clock struck full time the scoreboard was even so the game went into extra-time. Barcelona player Pedro came off the bench to net the winning goal in the 115th minute. Sevilla had a final chance to equalise and send the ball into the back of the net but missed with only several seconds left on the clock.  When the referee blew the final whistle the FC Barcelona team were ecstatic and the crowds in Dinamo Stadium went wild.

"We are delighted to start the season with this win but it was tough,” said Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who was named Man of the Match after scoring twice in the game.

Messi was named Man of the Match. Photo from fcbarcelona.com.

A number of records were set in Tbilisi tonight.

• Tbilisi Super Cup featured nine goals and became the highest scoring match in the Super Cup history. Until now the highest number of goals scored in a Super Cup game was seven and it was in 1997.
• Tonight’s game was attended by the highest number of people ever having been to a Super Cup match. Official figures showed there were 51,490 football fans at Dinamo Arena tonight.
• Messi scored two goals off free kicks in one game for the first time in his entire career.

Meanwhile tonight’s win saw FC Barcelona match AC Millan with five European Super Cup wins. The two clubs are the dominant forces when it comes to this trophy. Only one other club has won it more than twice - Liverpool with three titles.

Sevilla went home empty handed but the spirit they showed tonight was applauded by all; Sevilla’s international and Georgian fans, the opposition team and its supporters too.

Respect for the huge effort and never say die attitude from @SevillaFC. A fantastic game of football pic.twitter.com/jIEGhRFVdl

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 11, 2015

Today’s game sent a strong message of global unity by giving the spotlight to children from world conflict zones before the match began.

After Georgian national dances were performed at the stadium during the opening of the final, the players came out on the pitch and so did children from nine different countries performing to John Lennon's Imagine. This created a fantastic football atmosphere inside the stadium and Georgian fans were thrilled to watch their favourite players playing in their own city.

Meanwhile Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona will meet again in the coming weeks. The Spanish league La Liga begins next week, where Barcelona will try to defend their title as Spanish champions.