The Argentine World Player of the Year capped another marvellous performance with an unstoppable volley to claim the first silverware of the season before the trouble erupted.
Tempers boiled over on the touchline after debutant Cesc Fabregas was hacked down by Marcelo and the Brazilian defender, Mesut Ozil of Real and Barca’s David Villa were all dismissed.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi scored the winning goal against Real Madrid. Andres Kudacki/AP Photo
Messi had set up Andres Iniesta for the first goal in the 15th minute and, after Cristiano Ronaldo had quickly equalised, he scampered through to grab the second just before the break. Karim Benzema put Real level again with nine minutes remaining but the irrepressible Messi guided Barca to victory with another piece of magic that had the crowd in raptures.
Pep Guardiola fielded the side that won the Champions League final last May, which meant new signing Fabregas from Arsenal started on the bench, but Real bossed the opening minutes.
The visitors pushed up on Barca from the start and Ronaldo stung Victor Valdes’s hands inside the first minute as they harried and hustled their hosts all over the pitch.
Frightening Pace
The game was being played at a frightening pace when Messi picked up the ball in midfield and played the darting Iniesta straight through the middle with a perfectly weighted pass.
The Spanish international dinked the ball past the advancing Iker Casillas in a one-on-one to open the scoring, but Real quickly levelled when Barca struggled to clear a corner and Karim Benzema’s shot was diverted in by Ronaldo.
Casillas and Valdes each pulled off impressive saves on two occasions but it was Messi again who proved the difference.
When a corner was not properly cleared on the edge of the Real area, the Argentine chested the ball down to Gerard Pique.
The Barca defender back-heeled a delightful return pass to his flying team mate, who picked his way past two defenders and deftly lifted the ball over Casillas.
The second half failed to live up to the first as petty niggles interrupted the flow of the game, until Benzema pounced on a loose ball in the Barca area and struck the equaliser.
Guardiola then threw on Fabregas but it was Messi who provided the final breakthrough, feeding Adriano Correia out wide and then connecting with his low cross to smash home the winner inside the near post.
For Cesc Fabregas, meanwhile the victory means he has joined the club on a winning note, just three days after completing his move from Arsenal.
Barcelona after winning the Spanish Super Cup. AP
The 24-year-old Spanish World Cup winner came on for Pedro in the 82nd minute, just after Real had equalised at 2-2. ”I’m very pleased. It’s a great start winning and with such positive sensations,” Fabregas told Spanish state television as Barca’s players paraded the trophy around the Nou Camp.
Fabregas returned to the club he left in 2003 on Monday after one of the most drawn out transfer sagas in recent years, when he completed a move which could cost Barca up to 39 million euros ($56 million).
Having only won two trophies in his eight years with Arsenal, the 2004 league title and the 2005 FA Cup, Fabregas has now won his first piece of silverware in a Barca shirt after only three days.
At the end of Wednesday night’s game, Fabregas, who had not had much chance to contribute to the action, was hacked down by Marcelo near the two dugouts.
A huge touchline melee between the Barca and Real Madrid squads ended with Marcelo, his Real team mate Mesut Ozil and Barca’s David Villa all being sent off.
“Football is very competitive, they are two of the biggest teams in the world, and the rivalry is great,” he added with a shrug.
“These are things that always happen in football.”
Reuters