Barcelona clinched their fifth Spanish Supercup in seven years early Thursday with a heart-stopping 3-2 home defeat of spirited Real Madrid.
Barca took their trophy on a 5-4 aggregate because the first leg, played Sunday in Madrid, was a 2-2 draw.
Lionel Messi was the star of the show in a packed Camp Nou, as he usually is in Los Clasicos. The FIFA World Player set up the first Barca goal for Andres Iniesta before scoring two himself.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema scored for Real, who were just three minutes from taking the contest into extra-time.
Real's Marcelo and Mesut Oezil were sent off in an ugly scuffle at the end, together with Barca's David Villa.
It was Barca's third consecutive Supercup and the 11th major trophy for coach Pep Guardiola in his astonishing three-year reign. Guardiola is now level on trophies atop the Barca all-time coaching list with his mentor Johan Cruyff, who was on the Barca bench from 1988-96.
The match did not start until 11 pm because there were Champions League qualifying matches earlier Wednesday.
Real made the same aggressive start as in the first leg, pressing Barca hard in midfield and getting the ball forward quickly. Ronaldo forced a sharp save from keeper Victor Valdes after just one minute.
The hosts went ahead in the 14th minute with their very first attack. Messi beat two men cutting inside from the right and set up Iniesta with a perfect pass. Spain's World Cup hero made it 1-0 with a calm finish in front of Iker Casillas.
Real levelled just five minutes later. The Barca defence failed to clear a corner, and Karim Benzema centred for Ronaldo to poke the ball home at the far post, despite a suspicion of offside.
It was Ronaldo's first goal in the Camp Nou in five visits. He almost put Real ahead with a thunderous drive, which Valdes managed to push onto his crossbar.
Valdes then kept out a low drive from Oezil, with Real breaking through almost at will.
Against the run of play, just before half-time, Messi made it 2-1 with a deft right-foot finish, after being set up by a backheel from Gerard Pique.
Barca tried to control possession in the second half, and Guardiola brought on prodigal son Cesc Fabregas in order to dominate in midfield.
Nevertheless, Benzema made it 2-2 nine minutes from time after the shaky Barca defence had made a complete mess of clearing a corner.
Just three minutes from time, Messi settled the issue by making it 3-2 with a classy volley, after a good Adriano centre from the right.
Barca took their trophy on a 5-4 aggregate because the first leg, played Sunday in Madrid, was a 2-2 draw.
Lionel Messi was the star of the show in a packed Camp Nou, as he usually is in Los Clasicos. The FIFA World Player set up the first Barca goal for Andres Iniesta before scoring two himself.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema scored for Real, who were just three minutes from taking the contest into extra-time.
Real's Marcelo and Mesut Oezil were sent off in an ugly scuffle at the end, together with Barca's David Villa.
It was Barca's third consecutive Supercup and the 11th major trophy for coach Pep Guardiola in his astonishing three-year reign. Guardiola is now level on trophies atop the Barca all-time coaching list with his mentor Johan Cruyff, who was on the Barca bench from 1988-96.
The match did not start until 11 pm because there were Champions League qualifying matches earlier Wednesday.
Real made the same aggressive start as in the first leg, pressing Barca hard in midfield and getting the ball forward quickly. Ronaldo forced a sharp save from keeper Victor Valdes after just one minute.
The hosts went ahead in the 14th minute with their very first attack. Messi beat two men cutting inside from the right and set up Iniesta with a perfect pass. Spain's World Cup hero made it 1-0 with a calm finish in front of Iker Casillas.
Real levelled just five minutes later. The Barca defence failed to clear a corner, and Karim Benzema centred for Ronaldo to poke the ball home at the far post, despite a suspicion of offside.
It was Ronaldo's first goal in the Camp Nou in five visits. He almost put Real ahead with a thunderous drive, which Valdes managed to push onto his crossbar.
Valdes then kept out a low drive from Oezil, with Real breaking through almost at will.
Against the run of play, just before half-time, Messi made it 2-1 with a deft right-foot finish, after being set up by a backheel from Gerard Pique.
Barca tried to control possession in the second half, and Guardiola brought on prodigal son Cesc Fabregas in order to dominate in midfield.
Nevertheless, Benzema made it 2-2 nine minutes from time after the shaky Barca defence had made a complete mess of clearing a corner.
Just three minutes from time, Messi settled the issue by making it 3-2 with a classy volley, after a good Adriano centre from the right.
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