Lionel Messi lost his cool after another Barcelona collapse on Monday , hitting an opponent away from the ball and being sent off for the first time while playing with the Catalan club in the team’s 3-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Spanish Super Cup.
Inaki Williams’ goal in extra time gave Athletic the lead and a come-from-behind win.
Barcelona had little chance of recovering when Messi swung his right arm toward the head of an Athletic player while trying to free himself. Messi was shown the red card following a video review.
After Athletic scored in the 90th minute to seal a 2-2 draw and force extra time, Williams netted the title-clinching goal with a neat curling shot from just inside the area, with the ball hitting the far post before going into the top corner.
The goal three minutes into extra time secured Athletic their third Super Cup title, and first since it beat Barcelona in the 2015 final. The Basque Country club also won the title in 1984.
Barcelona were seeking their 15th Super Cup title, and third in the last five seasons. They were also looking to end their title drought after going without a trophy last season, something that hadn’t happened since 2007-08.
It was an even match at the La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, with neither team creating many significant scoring opportunities.
Messi, who helped set up Barcelona’s first goal, had been doubtful to play in the final because of an unspecified fitness issue that had caused coach Ronald Koeman to leave him out of the semi-final against Real Sociedad on Wednesday, when Barcelona prevailed in a penalty shootout.
Athletic reached the final by eliminating defending champions Madrid 2-1.
The final was the third match in charge for Athletic coach Marcelino Garcia Toral. His debut had been against Barcelona in a league game at home, when Messi scored twice to help the Catalan club recover from an early goal by Williams and secure a 3-2 victory.