Lionel Messi needed just 40 seconds to be sent off the day he made his debut for the Argentine team. An elbow for the Hungarian Vanczák, when he tried to escape the grip of the Hungarian player, caused his first red card, on August 17, 2005 in Budapest. He didn’t reach Barça until his 753rd match … And in a play that is not the same, but with a certain resemblance to the one from more than 15 years ago.
Tired of the scoring, sometimes outlawed, of the Athletic and Barça defenders who are desperately looking for a draw in the Super Cup final, until Villalibre’s possession, in any way, Messi responded, giving him an obvious slap. Although the referee looked at the game with the VAR monitor, the Barça captain’s aggression seemed clear and led to a red card that prevented the game from ending … And that could have consequences for the player.
Leo had only been expelled twice in his career. After the one from Hungary, ’10’ saw the red card for a fight with the Chilean Gary Medel, in the first half of the match for the third place in the Copa America 2019, when he entered in a bad way with the Red defender in a game full of nerves …
From as many nerves as this Sunday, in which Messi, who reappeared after not playing the semifinal against Real Sociedad, tried to lead Barça as much as he could, without ever hiding, looking for the main role, finishing the ball that rival ended in Griezmann’s 1-0 and that combined in a good way with his colleagues, although his physique did not always accompany him.
Messi, who had already lost the Cup final against Valencia de Villamarín, was left without a title again in Sevilla … And on top of that, he was sent off in a move that will provoke a sanction that could have an effect on Barça.