Lionel Messi could be banned for up to four matches after receiving the first red card of his career in Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa final of 3-2 against Athletic Bilbao.
Two goals from Antoine Griezmann looked like Barca would be on course for the first trophy of the Ronald Koeman era, but Asier Villalibre’s goal in the 90th minute took the game to extra time.
– Ratings: Messi 5/10, Griezmann 8/10 in wild Supercopa loss
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Inaki Williams gave Athletic, who beat Real Madrid in the semi-final, the lead in the 94th minute, and over time and Barca went 3-2 down, Messi was sent off for a frustrating knockout on Villalibre.
The competition committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation will meet this week to decide on the suspension of the captain of Barca.
Messi (33) will definitely miss two matches, but it could be doubled, depending on how the competition committee categorises the dismissal. The ban will be served across La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Therefore, he will miss Thursday’s Copa trip to Cornella, the third division, and the match against Elche in La Liga next weekend. If the ban is longer, he could also miss the next round of the Copa as Barca progress and the match against Athletic on January 31 at Camp Nou.
Sunday’s red card was the first Messi received when he played for Barca’s first team, a length of 753 games. However, it was the fourth of his career after one dismissal for Barca B in 2005 and two against Argentina, including one on his international debut the same year.
Koeman said after Sunday’s loss that he sympathized with Messi’s frustration.
“I can understand what Messi did,” Koeman said. “I do not know how many times they have fouled him, and it is normal to react if they are still trying to foul you as a player who wants to dribble with the ball, but I have to see it properly again.”
Barca competed in the final on Sunday in an unbeaten run of nine matches in all competitions, and passed a late fitness test by Messi after missing the semi-finals of Real Sociedad.
There were two Griezmann goals to extend the run to ten games, but the Frenchman’s attacks were first canceled out by Oscar De Marcos and then Villalibre before Williams scored a brilliant winner.
“I am angry, angry, irritated,” Griezmann told reporters after the defeat, which denied him his first piece of silverware since joining Atletico Madrid at Barca in 2019.
“I have all the bad feelings you can have after losing a final. We made mistakes during set pieces, we defended poorly, we did not speak with free kicks. These are important details.”
Despite the loss, Koeman tried to put on a brave face.
“We are sad and disappointed, but I still think we are on the right track and we are improving,” Koeman added.
“We have to improve defensively. We have to be more committed. We can not allow players to turn, shoot and pass. But I give it my all. I’m not the worst coach right now. [after a defeat] just like I’m not the best after a win, but it’s hard to take. ‘
For Athletic, it was a first trophy since beating Barca to win the Spanish Supercopa in 2015, and it was only the third match of new coach Marcelino.
“The honor fell to the players,” Marcelino said. ‘They deserved to be here for what they did last season and to win these two games [against Madrid and Barca] is incredible.
“I also want to remember Aritz Aduriz and Mikel San Jose and the other players who were here last season but are no longer part of the group. And also the previous coach [Gaizka Garitano] and its staff. ‘