Even if it’s just the Spanish Super Cup, Athletic Bilbao made history with a 4-0 win over Barcelona in the first leg, getting one wonder goal from Mikel San Jose and a hat trick in the second half by Aritz Aduriz.
Barcelona, playing only three days after winning the European Super Cup despite conceding four goals, playing with a weird lineup that included Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Pedro up front, but also Rafinha, Sergi Roberto, Thomas Vermaelen and Adriano, which resulted in poor play in the midfield and some confusing and eventually disastrous moments defensively.
The first goal by San Jose came after a terrible Ter Stegen mistake, clearing a ball with his head but not making it back in time to try and stop San Jose’s long range effort. A mistake that’s not something new for the young German goalkeeper who takes too many risks he really shouldn’t.
The second half started with Barcelona blitzing the Bilbao goal, but a crossbar hit and Messi drawing a fine save out of Gorka Iraizoz was the best for Barcelona in the match. Soon after Aduriz scored a thundering header to give Bilbao a 2-0 lead while sending the San Mames fans into ecstasy, followed by another goal from the big Spanish forward and then completing his hat trick by converting a penalty kick.
Even though it’s Barcelona, it’s hard to believe they can come back from losing 4-0 when they’re probably more concerned now about how they’ll perform in the league opener, also against Bilbao. It’s never nice losing 4-0 but in the grand scheme of things, even if it means missing out on the six-title year, there are more important things.