Excellent play by Messi, as he darts up the right flank, cuts inside Mercado who keeps him company and then tees up Suarez, but Rami comes across well to block the effort.
89'
There will be two minutes added on here.
87'
Excellent defending from Mascherano, who tracks the run of Ben Yedder and makes a vital intervention in the penalty area to halt the Tunisian.
85'
At the moment it feels like damage limitation for the home side. They are under pressure and struggling to cause their visitors problems, who have responded well in the second half.
83'
L. Suárez gets yellow.
Naughty there from Suarez, as the Uruguayan catches Mercado. Out comes the yellow card.
81'
M. El Haddadi has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by L. Messi.
A glorious pass from Messi there, as the Argentine superstar feeds Munir who applies an expert finish.
GOAL!!! BARCELONA DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! Great play by Messi in the build-up as he picks out Munir and the youngster produces a fine finish with the outside of his foot to seal all the win.
78'
F. Vázquez gets yellow.
Yellow card Franco Vázquez
77'
A final switch for Barca now, as Munir replaces Suarez, the scorer of the only goal so far.
76'
M. El Haddadi enters the game and replaces A. Turan.
Minute
Description
73'
Pique ends up in a heap on the floor in the Sevilla area, but the referee ignores his protests.
72'
Free-kick now to Barca, as Messi is dragged to the floor by Ganso, who is adamant he did nothing wrong.
70'
S. Nzonzi gets yellow.
N'Zonzi picks up a booking now for hauling Messi down in cynical fashion.
69'
Ganso enters the game and replaces M. Kranevitter.
And here comes the switch many Sevilla fans have been waiting for. Brazil international Ganso comes on for his debut, replacing Kranevitter.
67'
Sevilla are starting to run out of time. You'd think that if they are to get close to winning this title then they need a positive result here, but they still haven't really tested Bravo.
65'
Barcelona survive! Mariano's first-time pass into the area finds Vazquez and he turns away from Mascherano, who appears to haul him down. In the end a ricochet off Pique sees the ball go just wide of the Barca goal.
63'
Good play by Sergi. The right-back intercepts a poor pass from Kranevitter and charges forward, linking with Messi before then getting a stinging shot away, forcing Rico into a smart save.
61'
W. Ben Yedder enters the game and replaces L. Vietto.
Second change for Sevilla now. The ineffective Vietto makes way and Ben Yedder comes on to take his place.
58'
Sergio Busquets gets yellow.
Fantastic run from Vitolo, as the winger picks the ball up on the edge of his own area and charges forward. He is eventually hauled down by a frustrated Busquets, who is booked.
57'
Sevilla have fallen asleep here. Again Barca come forward and attack with intent, but luckily on this occasion Arda's pass is deflected and Vitolo take the ball away.
55'
Pablo Sarabia enters the game and replaces Sergio Escudero.
Confirmation of the change now, as Sarabia replaces Escudero. That will definitely mean a tactical reshuffle, with Sarabia very much an offensive player.
Almost a second! Barca carve through their hosts, with Messi and Suarez playing a one-two, but the Argentine is denied by Rico, who rushes out just in time.
54'
L. Suárez has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by A. Turan.
GOAL!!! BRILLIANT BARCELONA GOAL! Denis clips a clever pass into the danger zone for Arda, who chests the ball down to Suarez and the Uruguayan coolly slots past Rico.
Excellent assist from Arda, who latches on to the chipped pass from Denis and nonchalantly chests the ball into Suarez's path.
53'
Barca are essentially up against 10 men at the moment while Sevilla prepare to make their change, but can they make the most of the numerical advantage?
52'
Bad news for Sevilla here. Escudero is signalling that he needs to come off after taking a blow to the hip a short while ago. They don't have any natural defenders on the bench either.
50'
Excellent delivery from Denis, as he clips the ball into the danger zone from the left and Suarez meets it with a glancing head, but Rico gets in the way and blocks it with his face.
49'
Barca are back on the front foot now, as Arda comes in off the left and finds Suarez. He tries to pick out Messi with a reverse pass, but Mercado is there to blast away.
48'
That's another poor free-kick from Escudero, but they manage to win a corner out of nothing, as Bravo palms it wide. The resulting corner isn't much better, though, as the pressure come to an end with Vazquez blasting over from 30 yards.
47'
Lovely play by N'Zonzi, who skips away from a couple of Barca midfielders with a brilliant touch before surging up the right. He lays it off to Vitolo and then Arda fouls the winger in a dangerous position.
46'
Off we go for the second half, with Sevilla getting things started.
45' +3
HALF-TIME!
45' +1
There will be three minutes added on here.
45'
A rare Barcelona shot there, as Arda comes in off the left flank and scuffs a right-footed effort comfortably wide of the left-hand post.
43'
Exceptional defending from Mercado. The defender tracks the run of Suarez and crashes into him, stealing the ball in the process and not for the first time. Granted he has looked a little unconvincing in possession, but defensively he's been excellent on his debut.
41'
The free-kick is wasted by Sevilla, who once again deliver a poor set-piece. Rakitic then wants a foul out on the left for a clip from Vazquez, but nothing is given.
40'
Sevilla's pressing has been exceptionally effective so far and once again Kiyotake is on Buquets in a flash after Bravo's pass out. The Japan international robs the Spaniard and finds Escudero, who is then bundled over by Rakitic.
39'
Mariano and Vitolo link well again on the right, with the Brazilian then playing a low pass into the danger zone. Vazquez pounces and cleverly breezes past his man before getting a shot away, but it is deflected wide.
38'
Almost an opening for Barca, as Messi plays a clever pass in behind the Sevilla defence for Arda, but Rico is swiftly off his line. Great goalkeeping.
36'
Denis Suárez enters the game and replaces Andrés Iniesta.
Bad news for Barca. Iniesta is being withdrawn after picking up that knock. Presumably Luis Enrique is just being cautious, but it's not worth risking him. Denis takes his place.
35'
A bit of pressure for Sevilla to withstand now, as Rakitic picks up possession on the right and crosses. His deflected delivery almost falls kindly for Suarez, but Rami is there to cut it out.
34'
Another pause due to injury, this time as Mariano clutches his knee. He doesn't look to be in too much pain, though.
32'
G. Mercado gets yellow.
And there's the first yellow card of the game, as Mercado tracks back desperately and clips Suarez. A booking all day long.
31'
Back come Sevilla. A lovely display of quick feet in the centre from Vazquez sees the Italian escape three men, before then feeding Vitolo. The winger bursts past Digne and plays the ball into the danger zone, but Mascherano sweeps up.
30'
Another good move from the hosts, as Kiyotake gets in behind Sergi and plays a fierce delivery into the area, but Bravo is equal to it.
29'
And now it's Iniesta in a heap. The Spaniard's touch is a little heavy and Mariano clatters into him, winning the ball fairly, but there appeared to be a clash of knees. He is going to require some medical attention.
27'
L. Digne enters the game and replaces J. Mathieu.
And on comes the new signing from Paris Saint-Germain, as Digne takes the place of Mathieu.
26'
Barca have a problem here. Mathieu is on the ground after seemingly pulling his hamstring and is going to have to be withdrawn. Digne is stripped and ready to replace him.
25'
Better from Mercado there, as the Argentine debutant gets in quick on Suarez and prods the ball away to halt a promising move.
24'
Mercado isn't having a great debut so far. Not for the first time he is caught in possession in a dangerous position and it is Messi who robs him this time. The Barca star links with Suarez and gets it back, before looking to Busquets to his left, but the midfielder strayed offside. What a waste.
23'
Vitolo is giving Mathieu a bit of a roasting at the moment, but again the final pass from Sevilla isn't good enough, as the winger's cross is easliy blocked by the Frenchman.
21'
Barcelona get themselves some respite in the form of a prolonged period of possession. They've not done an awful lot with it, though, and Sevilla are pressing brilliantly.
19'
Barcelona look flustered. Once again they get rid of the corner easily enough, but they can't keep the ball away and the home side are straight back on the front foot.
18'
The pressure continues. Mariano is the latest to try his luck from the flank, finding lots of space and then crossing into the danger zone, but again it is deflected behind for a corner.
17'
Barcelona deal with the corner fairly easily once again. Kranevitter latches on to the loose ball about 30 yards from goal, but he scuffs an effort well wide of the target.
16'
Good pressure by Sevilla. This time Kiyotake is released into the left side of the area. His low delivery is cut out, but it swiftly lands nicely for Vazquez's whose cross is deflected behind.
14'
Escudero's corner delivery doesn't cause too many problems, but the hosts win themselves a throw-in, which the left-back launches into the area. Vitolo and Mariano link well on the right flank but are guilty of overplaying and the former's eventual shot is blocked.
13'
Vitolo is getting through a lot of running already for Sevilla. This time he darts up the right flank and commits Mathieu, who can only concede a corner against the Spain international.
12'
More unconvincing defending from Sevilla. Rakitic's deflected right-wing cross drops kindly for Arda who is completely unmarked, but luckily for the home side the midfielder misses the ball with his attempted overhead kick.
11'
Good play by the hosts, as a one-touch passing move sees Kiyotake release Mariano on the right, but the Brazilian is forced to come inside and then Vietto gets crowded out.
9'
Excellent pressing from Sevilla on the right, as Mariano gets into Arda and prods the ball away. That spawns a move which sees the hosts work the play to the opposite flank, but N'Zonzi accidentally knocks the ball out of play.
7'
SEVILLA SURVIVE! Brilliant play by Barca! Iniesta jinks past his man in midfield and prods a clever pass through to Suarez, whose slight touch and spin takes the ball away from Rami and he manages to get a shot away, but Rico denies him excellently. You have to say, that should have been 1-0.
5'
Barca's first attack sees Arda head up the left flank. He manages to get just in behind Mariano and play a low cross into the danger zone, but Mercado is there to clear.
3'
Well, Sevilla have certainly started as Sampaoli wishes to continue, with the hosts seeing a lot of the ball and knocking it around with intent. Barca win possession back as a cross-field pass from Rami goes out, but they themselves are swiftly forced into an error by the home side's intense pressing.
1'
Off we go in Sevilla! The visitors get things started.
Sevilla subs: Churripi, Correa, Iborra, Sarabia, Konoplyanka, Ben Yedder, Ganso.
Hello and welcome to the LIVE coverage of the Spanish Super Cup first leg between Sevilla and Barcelona. I will be describing all of the action for you today, as these two sides go head-to-head at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, with the home side undoubtedly looking to get themselves a good a result as possible ahead of the return leg at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Barcelona subs: Masip, Umtiti, Aleix Vidal, Digne, Andre Gomes, Denis Suarez, Munir.
Barcelona starting XI (4-3-3): Bravo; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Arda.
The hosts have of course endured a rather tumultuous season, but for better or worse is yet to be revealed. In the UEFA Super Cup on Tuesday they gave supporters plenty of reason for optimism, dominating Real Madrid for much of the match and ultimately falling short in extra-time following the sending off of Kolo. Today there are plenty of reflections of their upheaval on display.
New coach Jorge Sampaoli has certainly been backed by sporting director Monchi and the club, with another four signings on the bench in the shape of Joaquin Correa, Pablo Sarabia, Ganso and Wissam Ben Yedder. He certainly has plenty of options should any of the starting XI disappoint, though he doesn't have a single defender waiting in reserve.
No fewer than five new signings start for Sevilla tonight. Gabriel Mercado, Argentina interntional right-back, starts in the centre of defence due to a mini injury crisis in that area, while Matias Kranevitter, Franco Vazquez and Hiroshi Kiyotake fit into a fluid midfield. Leading the line will be Luciano Vietto, arguably the most significant addition.
Barcelona's close-season has been rather less dramatic than Sevilla's, but that doesn't mean there has been a shortage of activity. There are no new faces in the starting XI, giving Luis Enrique plenty of stability and familiarity in his team, but Denis Suarez, Andre Gomes, Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne all take places on the bench. In fact, many are surprised that the latter isn't starting ahead of Jeremy Mathieu at left-back, but it remains to be seen if that becomes a problem.
Luis Enrique will be keen to leave the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan with a positive result ahead of the second leg, hoping to avoid too much of a workout on Wednesday ahead of the new season starting. However, Sampaoli vowed in the build-up to attack the Catalans and at least attempt to dominate. Easier said than done against a team like Barca, but one has to applaud his boldness. And at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Sevilla are capable of anything.
Nevertheless, this is more or less the same Barcelona team which won the league title and Copa del Rey last term - the latter of which they clinched by beating Sevilla 2-0. Sampaoli's mind may be bent on his side dominating, but with Lionel Messi and company, the visitors are formidable and obviously need no introduction. Is the Argentine coach senting himself up for a fall?
The stadium is packed and the players are about to come out, but in the meantime Jose Antonio Reyes - now of Espanyol - has been out on the pitch showing off Sevilla's three Europa League trophies. The fan favourite gets a great ovation.
The two teams are out, with Sevilla's anthem ringing out from all corners of the stadium. The captains Vitolo and Iniesta shake hands and we are ready to go.
The referee brings an entertaining first half to a close with the score still level at 0-0. Sevilla have been the better side and their extra match fitness has been evident so far. The hosts have been quicker to pretty much everything so far and Barca have looked flustered throughout. The visitors spurned the best chance through Luis Suarez, but other than that Sampaoli's men have been in charge. They just need to improve their final ball and this match is there for the taking.
The referee brings things to a close and Barcelona seal a 2-0 win in Sevilla thanks to goals from Suarez and Munir. The home side were in this for a long time and actually looked to be on the front foot for significant periods, but in the end they ran out of steam and their inability to produce consistently good deliveries into the area proved their undoing. For Barca, they still don't look quite as sharp as they could be, but with another Super Cup game to go before the league season starts, they could be in worse shape.
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