Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
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Uefa Cup holders Sevilla signalled their intent ahead of the new season, beating Barcelona 3-0 to win the Super Cup.
Having conquered England last season, Barca by beating Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final and Sevilla doing likewise against Middlesbrough in the Uefa Cup, it was time to find out who reigns supreme in Europe.
In what is - in many respects - a glorified friendly, it was the men from Seville who were more up for the fight - nullifying the ample threat of the Barca attack while asking plenty of questions through the likes of goalscorers Fredi Kanoute, Renato and Enzo Maresca.
For all the quality on show in the Barca line-up, Sevilla were the side who flew out of the blocks - scoring inside seven minutes through their own Brazilian.
Having already tested the Spanish Champions' goalkeeper Victor Valdes from range, Renato pounced on another stop from the Spaniard after Luis Fabiano had raced onto his earlier through ball.
Barca's response was channelled through the sumptuous passing of Deco, but the three-pronged attack of Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi was failing to fire.
The majority of the ball possession rested with the Catalans, but the better chances kept falling to Sevilla, and Kanoute made it 2-0 with the final header of the first half.
After a weak punch from Valdes, Navas helped the ball back into a crowded penalty area, and it was the former West Ham and Tottenham striker who rose above Thiago Motta to find the empty net.
Frank Rijkaard threw on Eidur Gudjohnson and Andres Iniesta in a bid to rescue the match like they had done against Arsenal in Paris, but the Icelander wasted an instant opportunity to half the deficit.
At the other end, Renato missed a fine chance to seal victory with 22 minutes remaining, heading wide of an open net having beaten the on-rushing Valdes to Kanoute's flick-on.
In a second half that swung enthrallingly from one end to the other, chances offered themselves in both goal areas, with Eto'o toe-poking wide moments after the rapid Adriano had been foiled by Valdes.
In the end, it was left to substitute Maresca to fire home a 90th-minute penalty to seal victory, after Carlos Puyol had collided with Antonio Puerta