Spanish Super Cup: FC Barcelona 1-0 Athletic Bilbao

Since they were the runner's up last year in the Copa del Rey, and Barca had swept all competitions, Athletic Bilbao were given the "enviable" position to replay the blaugrana in this year's Spanish Super-Cup, a two legged affair that was played this weekend at Bilbao's cathedral at San Mames with the return leg scheduled next weekend at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona were missing most of their attacking trident, Iniesta, Messi and Zlatan did not play, and Athletic Bilbao played up to their name. Athletic, not Bilbao I'm afriad. They were determined and hard-nosed and Barca were missing some key components to their attack (this is what the Catalan reporters talk about when they put Iniesta and Messi as the two best players on the team).

The Basques score first with a great shot by Oscar de Marcos who they just recently signed from Alaves. They looked in control, but Barcelona's game-plan is simple: maintain possession, frustrate the opponent and look for the opportunities that will come. They make teams bend to them, not the other way around, and the shots came: the first from Xavi and the second from youngster Pedro put the Catalans ahead.

Next week's match herald's the return of the new season, none of us here at Forza Futbol can wait anymore for the start, but I think Athletic Bilbao are in an even bigger rush I think to get the second leg of this Spanish Super-Cup over.

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