Athletic Bilbao won the Spanish Super Cup at the La Cartuja Stadium on Sunday night courtesy of a come-from-behind 3-2 extra-time victory over Barcelona who had Lionel Messi, their captain sent off for violent conduct.
It was Messi’s first-ever Barcelona red card and it came in his 753rd game for the club where he has broken almost every record available.
Messi, who had a quiet evening for Barcelona, crowned the Catalans’ miserable night with a red card for violent conduct in the last minute of extra time.
The 33-year-old Argentine bundled a Bilbao player to the ground off the ball and was given the marching order following a VAR review.
Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, earned their third Super Cup title and their first since 2015 when they also defeated Barcelona.
Marcelino, Bilbao’s new manager who joined the club earlier this month, also recorded his second cup final win over Barcelona, following his 2019 triumph with Valencia in the Copa Del Rey final.
With two wins apiece in their past five meetings, both clubs delivered a pulsating match that required extra time to separate them with Bilbao punishing a tired Barcelona in extra time, courtesy of Inaki William’s wonder goal.
Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring in the 40th minute, pouncing on a loose ball that fell to him from Lionel Messi’s blocked shot to slot home from 10 yards out.
Athletic Bilbao restored parity two minutes later through Oscar de Marcos. The versatile midfielder ghosted between Barcelona’s defenders to bury Williams’ cross for a 1-1 scoreline at halftime.
The Basque side would have a goal chalked off for offside by the VAR that adjudged that Raul Garcia was inches offside as he met a free kick with a powerful header.
Griezmann restored Barcelona’s lead in the 77th minute when he again slotted home Jordi Alba’s cross for his sixth goal contribution in his last six matches.
A dramatic end to regulation time saw Asier Villalibre, who was introduced from the bench on the 73rd-minute, volleyed into the top corner from Iker Muniain’s deep free-kick to steal a last-minute equalizer and force an extra time.
Bilbao then punished their tired-looking but more illustrious opponent three minutes into extra time through the brilliant Williams.
The striker collected Muniain’s pass and curled perfectly into the top corner from the edge of the box to make it 3-2 and hand Athletic the lead for the first time in the encounter.
Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin
Victor Osimhen’s late header helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria secure a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in Abidjan, clinching their qualification for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Benin, playing their matches in Côte d’Ivoire, took an early lead in the 16th minute when Mohammed Tijani headed in a short corner.
The goal followed a period of sustained pressure from the Beninoise side on the Nigerian defence.
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Benin nearly doubled their advantage shortly afterwards, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a crucial save to keep Nigeria in the game.
Osimhen threatened as the first half progressed, with a powerful header that narrowly missed the target.
In the second half, Benin came close again, but a shot veered inches wide of the right post, sparing the Eagles further trouble.
With nine minutes remaining, Osimhen rose to the occasion, connecting with a precise cross from Moses Simon to level the score at 1-1.
With this result, the Super Eagles top Group D with 11 points from five matches, while Benin hold second place with seven points.
BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have secured their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, following Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.
This result leaves Rwanda with five points from five matches, rendering them unable to surpass Nigeria in the standings, even if they win their upcoming match against the Super Eagles in Uyo.
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Currently, Nigeria leads Group D with 10 points, followed by Benin with six points, Rwanda with five, and Libya at the bottom with four points.
Benin remains in contention for the second qualification spot and will face Nigeria in a crucial match tonight.
Libya is set to host Benin in the final Group D game on Monday.
Mike Tyson back in ring to face Youtuber Paul
Nearly 40 years after making his professional debut, and 19 years after being battered into retirement, a 58-year-old Mike Tyson will climb back into the ring on Friday for a Netflix-backed bout that has drawn widespread condemnation across the boxing world.
Tyson, who terrorised the heavyweight division during an imperious reign in the late 1980s, is lacing up the gloves once more to take on Youtuber Jake Paul, 27, in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.
The fight, which will be comprised of eight two-minute rounds, was initially due to take place in July but was postponed in May after Tyson required medical treatment on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles after vomiting blood due to a bleeding ulcer.
That gory mid-air emergency has provided another piece of ammunition for the numerous critics who have condemned Friday’s contest as a macabre circus act that poses an unacceptable level of risk for Tyson, who last graced a professional ring in 2005, when he was beaten via a technical knockout after quitting on his stool against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.
“Twenty years ago, Mike Tyson retired from boxing, and was shot to pieces, right? I mean, completely shot,” the prominent British fight promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.
“If anyone thinks that Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no emotional feelings toward the man, or you’re an idiot. It shouldn’t be happening.”
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Hearn’s rival promoter Frank Warren echoed those sentiments.
“Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren said after the bout was announced. “It’s as simple as that.
“Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that it is ridiculous. You can be on a motorway stuck in a traffic jam and you get to the end of it and all it is is people who have stopped to look at a crash — and that’s what this is.”
Tyson, who US reports say is being paid around $20 million for Friday’s contest, has brushed off the concerns for his wellbeing, insisting when critics from the boxing world are motivated by jealousy.
“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” he said earlier this year. “The people who said that wish they were up here. No-one else can do this.”
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