Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – 6. Tipped a 25th minute shot over as the plan of Marcelino, Athletic’s new coach, to press Barca worked. His players were up for it and would put three past the German – none of which were his fault. Getty Images
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – 6. Tipped a 25th minute shot over as the plan of Marcelino, Athletic’s new coach, to press Barca worked. His players were up for it and would put three past the German – none of which were his fault. Getty Images
Sergino Dest – 6. Back in side and not always easy for him as Athletic pressed the space behind Dembele. Did OK but taken off at half time, probably as the American is just back from injury. AFP
Sergino Dest – 6. Back in side and not always easy for him as Athletic pressed the space behind Dembele. Did OK but taken off at half time, probably as the American is just back from injury. AFP
Ronald Araujo – 7. Superb in dispossessing Williams and stretched towards a Griezmann first half corner but couldn’t connect. Gave ball away in front of his own goal as the Basques pressed for a winner in the second, but he’s a fantastic young central defender. AP
Ronald Araujo – 7. Superb in dispossessing Williams and stretched towards a Griezmann first half corner but couldn’t connect. Gave ball away in front of his own goal as the Basques pressed for a winner in the second, but he’s a fantastic young central defender. AP
Clement Lenglet – 6. Booked. As usual. And led a defence which was undone three times by balls through them and saw a goal against as a result – two of them resulting in goals. AP
Clement Lenglet – 6. Booked. As usual. And led a defence which was undone three times by balls through them and saw a goal against as a result – two of them resulting in goals. AP
Jordi Alba – 7. Combined with Messi as usual to set up Griezmann opener. Searched for an offside for Athletic’s opener after Di Marcos slipped in front of him – but his defence was undone by a superb Williams’ ball. Set up Griezmann with a cross for Barca’s second. Always a threat on the left. Booked for moaning. AP
Jordi Alba – 7. Combined with Messi as usual to set up Griezmann opener. Searched for an offside for Athletic’s opener after Di Marcos slipped in front of him – but his defence was undone by a superb Williams’ ball. Set up Griezmann with a cross for Barca’s second. Always a threat on the left. Booked for moaning. AP
Sergio Busquets – 6. Cut a dispirited figure as he collected the runners up shield after Messi was sent off, but he knew the Basques deserved their victory after taking the game to the Catalans from the start. Getty Images
Sergio Busquets – 6. Cut a dispirited figure as he collected the runners up shield after Messi was sent off, but he knew the Basques deserved their victory after taking the game to the Catalans from the start. Getty Images
Frenkie De Jong – 6. Smashed in extra time in a clash of heads with Raul Garcia which looked like it could be serious. He’ll feel it today, but quickly returned to the pitch – only to be pulled to the ground by the tenacious Basques who’d already knocked Real Madrid out. Moved back to central defender as Barca. AP
Frenkie De Jong – 6. Smashed in extra time in a clash of heads with Raul Garcia which looked like it could be serious. He’ll feel it today, but quickly returned to the pitch – only to be pulled to the ground by the tenacious Basques who’d already knocked Real Madrid out. Moved back to central defender as Barca. AP
Pedri – 6. Superb young midfielder who was man of the match against Athletic in the league last week, but left the field exhausted. Reuters
Pedri – 6. Superb young midfielder who was man of the match against Athletic in the league last week, but left the field exhausted. Reuters
Lionel Messi - 5. In-form and the top scorer in La Liga, the Argentine played through the middle and shot over from distance after 37 minutes as Barca pushed for an opener. Twice involved in the move which led to it, but otherwise quiet and probably not 100 per cent fit, so why did he play 120 minutes? Barca needed their best game changer at the top of his game. What they got was a man sent off for violet conduct in the 120th minute for swinging an arm at an opponent. Reuters
Lionel Messi - 5. In-form and the top scorer in La Liga, the Argentine played through the middle and shot over from distance after 37 minutes as Barca pushed for an opener. Twice involved in the move which led to it, but otherwise quiet and probably not 100 per cent fit, so why did he play 120 minutes? Barca needed their best game changer at the top of his game. What they got was a man sent off for violet conduct in the 120th minute for swinging an arm at an opponent. Reuters
Ousmane Dembele – 7 Whipped a ball into Messi and fantastic ball to Alba to set up Griezmann for second goal. Otherwise looked tired. AFP
Ousmane Dembele – 7 Whipped a ball into Messi and fantastic ball to Alba to set up Griezmann for second goal. Otherwise looked tired. AFP
Antoine Griezmann – 8 Gave ball away after five minutes but began to concentrate and put the ball into the net for the first after 40 minutes and danced in his celebration. Scored the second, steering a ball from Alba at the near post after 76 minutes after Athletic had a Raul Garcia header ruled offside. It was. Just. Smashed a volley wife after 110 minutes as his team chased equaliser. AP
Antoine Griezmann – 8 Gave ball away after five minutes but began to concentrate and put the ball into the net for the first after 40 minutes and danced in his celebration. Scored the second, steering a ball from Alba at the near post after 76 minutes after Athletic had a Raul Garcia header ruled offside. It was. Just. Smashed a volley wife after 110 minutes as his team chased equaliser. AP
Oscar Mingueza - 6. On for Dest at half time. His fresh legs had the measure of Munian. Steady. Getty Images
Oscar Mingueza - 6. On for Dest at half time. His fresh legs had the measure of Munian. Steady. Getty Images
Miralem Pjanic – 5. On for Pedri 88. Brought on to see the game out found himself on a team conceding two goals in three minutes – the second a superb Williams’ curling shot - and chasing a game with exhausted players (no match photo available). Courtesy FC Barcelona
Miralem Pjanic – 5. On for Pedri 88. Brought on to see the game out found himself on a team conceding two goals in three minutes – the second a superb Williams’ curling shot - and chasing a game with exhausted players (no match photo available). Courtesy FC Barcelona
Martin Braithwaite – 4. On for Dembele 88. Came on in the minute the Basques equalised and did little in 32 minutes on the pitch. Reuters
Martin Braithwaite – 4. On for Dembele 88. Came on in the minute the Basques equalised and did little in 32 minutes on the pitch. Reuters
Riqui Puig On for Busquets after 97. The Barça youngster is hugely talented and fans want him to succeed. Barça’s last three coaches have been slightly less enthused (no match photo available). AP
Riqui Puig On for Busquets after 97. The Barça youngster is hugely talented and fans want him to succeed. Barça’s last three coaches have been slightly less enthused (no match photo available). AP
Trincao On for Lenglet after 106 minutes. Getty Images
Trincao On for Lenglet after 106 minutes. Getty Images

Football

Lionel Messi 5, Antoine Griezmann 8, Ousmane Dembele 7: Barcelona player ratings v Athletic Bilbao

Catalans lose 3-2 after extra time in the Spanish Super Cup final

Andy Mitten
Andy Mitten
Barcelona and Manchester

January 18, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Lionel Messi was sent off for the first time in his Barcelona career in the closing stages of extra time as they lost 3-2 to Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday.

Messi, who returned to the starting lineup after missing the semi-final victory over Real Sociedad through injury, was dismissed after striking Asier Villalibre in the final minute.

Read More

Koeman defends decision to start Messi, Griezmann 'angry' at defence as Barcelona lose Spanish Super Cup final

The Argentine had been heavily involved in a more positive way as Barca took the lead five minutes before the break.

Messi's goalbound effort was blocked, falling to the feet of Antoine Griezmann, who netted the first of his two goals.

Bilbao responded as Oscar De Marcos met Inaki Williams' cross two minutes later to send the sides in level at halftime.

French forward Griezmann looked to have won it for the Catalans with a goal against the run of play 14 minutes from time, only for substitute Villalibre to volley home in the 90th minute to send the game into the extra period.

Three minutes into the additional half hour Williams curled a stunning effort into the far corner from the edge of the box to give Bilbao the lead for the first time in the tie.

Marcelino was only named as Bilbao coach this month and the 55-year-old has now beaten Barca in the last two finals they have reached after his success over them with Valencia in the 2019 Copa del Rey final.

"It's going to be impossible to keep up that record," he said. "I don't know how many semi-finals I had to play before actually reaching a final, I think it was eight, but now I've won in two finals."

A third Super Cup title is Bilbao's first silverware since they claimed the same trophy in 2015 with a 5-1 aggregate win over Barcelona.

Reflecting on the Spanish Super Cup final, Andy Mitten provides his player ratings for Barcelona in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

On Women's Day
UAE SQUAD

Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan

The biog

Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb

Age: 57

From: Kalba

Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge

Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

 

Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

Results

2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m

Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).

2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m

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3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m

Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m

Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m

Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.

4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m

Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.

5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m

Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.

WHEN TO GO:

September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.

WHERE TO STAY:

Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.

The bio

Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions

School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira

Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk

Dream City: San Francisco

Hometown: Dubai

City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Specs

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Torque: 175Nm

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule

12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)

2pm Formula One final practice 

5pm Formula One qualifying

6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)

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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Tank warfare

Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks. 

“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.

“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”

Inside Palestine-Israel
Green ambitions
  • Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
  • Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
  • Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
  • Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water 
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