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| Athletic Bilbao’s defensive midfielder Mikel San Jose points to the heavens after scoring an incredible goal to put the underdogs ahead |
Former Liverpool defender Mikel San Jose netted from the halfway line and Aritz Aduriz scored a hat-trick as Barcelona lost the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup 4-0 to all but end hopes of winning six out of six trophies in 2015.
Manchester United target Pedro was in the starting line-up but couldn’t prevent an understrength team being soundly beaten at a rainswept San Mames.
United’s apparent reluctance to pay Pedro’s €30m buy-out clause has left Barcelona exercising their right to wait until the end of the window to close the deal. On Tuesday in the Uefa Super Cup in Georgia the tactic had been to leave him fuming on the bench, last night he started but probably wish he hadn’t as Barca looked a shadow of the team that edged past Sevilla in extra time.
After that energy-sapping 120 minutes Barca coach Luis Enrique left Gerard Pique, Sergi Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic out of his starting line-up. With the team already missing the injured Jordi Alba and mumps victim Neymar it was too much against a strong Athletic side who were in front in spectacular fashion after 13 minutes.
German keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen headed clear from outside of his area after Athletic keeper Gorka Iraizoz had sent a long punt down field. Barca like their goalkeepers to be able to play outside their area but Ter Stegen was embarrassed as his header dropped to San Jose in the centre circle and after taking one touch to control the ball he sent a shot back over the keeper’s head to make it 1-0.
San Jose joined Liverpool from Athletic Bilbao in 2007 but despite impressing in the reserves never made it at Anfield and ended up back at the club where he went on to reach the Spain team. He will not have scored a better goal than last night’s and it set the tone for the rest of the game.
Without their entire first choice midfield Barça were over-run in the middle of the park and managed only one first half shot on goal from a Leo Messi free-kick won by some direct running from Pedro. With the last piece of action in the first 45 minutes Messi’s effort was tipped over by Iraizoz.
Pedro had generally toiled without reward and been booked for a challenge on Markel Susaeta – one that would never have resulted in a caution in the Premier League.
In the second half the Spain winger rattled the bar after capitalising on a mistake by Aymeric Laporte and shortly afterwards Luis Suarez teed up Messi but Iraizoz got down well to his right to make the save.
There were Barca’s best chances of the second half and once they were missed Athletic stepped up a gear and put the game out of sight.
First Aduriz powered in a header after Sergio Roberto had lost possession and allowed Sabin Merino to cross. Then Dani Alves and Thomas Vermaelen were left stranded as Susaeta’s pass was turned in by Aduriz who then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Alves had fouled Xabier Etxeita.
Luis Enrique brought Iniesta and Rakitic on in the second period for Rafinha and Roberto and Pedro made way for Sandro on 70 minutes but their was no way back for Barcelona forced to make too many changes after their duel with Sevilla four days earlier.
They now have just three days to prepare for the second leg at the Nou Camp on Monday when only an extraordinary result – even by their standards – will revive their chances of winning the league, Champions League, Kings Cup, Super Cup, European Super Cup and World Club Cup in the same year.
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