Barca win Super Cup

Barcelona has won the UEFA Super Cup following an exhilarating 5-4 win in extra time against last season's Europa League winners Sevilla.

The two Spanish clubs revived the country's dominance of European competition after Barca won its sixth Champions League crown in Berlin. The Catalans went behind within the first few minutes before storming into a 4-1 lead after the restart.

But Unay Emery's men responded admirably, pulling the game back to 4-4 in 23 minutes and guaranteeing extra time.

Pedro, despite handing in a transfer request as he closes in on a move to Manchester United, scored the winner on 115 minutes to secure Barca's fifth Super Cup win in nine attempts.

With Lionel Messi included in the starting line-up alongside Luis Suarez in attack, Barcelona shaped up as favorites. Neymar, the third piece of that attacking trident, has the mumps and missed out of Luis Enrique's selection.

Free-kick genius

But even before the game had settled down, the Andalusians struck first, Argentine midfielder Banega curling home the first of three free-kicks in Tbilisi. Four minutes later, another Argentine player produced a moment of individual brilliance from a set-piece.

Messi stepped up and proceeded to curl the ball into the corner of the net with his left-foot from a similar position to Banega. On 16 minutes, the three-time Ballon d'Or winner completed the feat again, curling the free-kick into the reverse corner of the net.

On 41 minutes, Barcelona added a third, Suarez missing a chance but the ball fell to Rafinha who finished up the rebound. The Uruguayan scored one himself on 52 minutes and appeared to put the ribbons on the Super Cup trophy with more than half an hour to play.

But football springs surprises: Sevilla pulled one back through Jose Antonio Reyes six minutes later. And then on 71 minutes, Barcelona's Jeremy Mathieu lost his focus for a split-second and conceded a penalty, which Kevin Gameiro converted to bring the deficit down to one goal.

Former Borussia Dortmund forward Ciro Immobile was one of two players introduced with 10 minutes to go as Sevilla flew at the Camp Nou side. Immobile was creator for the equalizer on 81 minutes, crossing for Yevhen Konoplyanka who scored.

The extra 30 minutes included some moments of danger from Sevilla. But Barcelona looked more threatening when the spaces appeared towards the end - and they pounced with five to go. A free-kick from Messi didn't beat the keeper but Pedro wouldn't be denied, slamming home to secure the fifth Super Cup win for Barca.