Messi could face 4-match ban for first career red card with Barcelona

Lionel Messi may very well be banned for as much as 4 video games after receiving the primary purple card of his Barcelona profession in Sunday’s Spanish Supercopa last 3-2 defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

Two targets from Antoine Griezmann seemed to have Barca on the right track for the primary trophy of the Ronald Koeman period, however Asier Villalibre‘s Ninetieth-minute purpose took the sport to additional time.

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Inaki Williams gave Athletic, who beat Real Madrid within the semifinal, the lead within the 94th minute, and with time working out and Barca down 3-2, Messi was despatched off for lashing out at Villalibre in frustration.

The Royal Spanish Soccer Federation’s competitors committee will meet this week to determine the size of the Barca captain’s suspension.

Messi, 33, is for certain to overlook two matches however that may very well be doubled, relying on how the competitors committee categorise the dismissal. The ban shall be served throughout La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

Subsequently, he’ll miss Thursday’s Copa journey to third-division aspect Cornella and subsequent weekend’s sport in opposition to Elche in La Liga. If the ban is longer, he might additionally miss the following spherical of the Copa if Barca progress and the match in opposition to Athletic at Camp Nou on Jan. 31.

Sunday’s purple card was the primary Messi has acquired whereas taking part in for Barca’s first group, a size of 753 matches. It was the fourth of his profession, although, following one dismissal for Barca B in 2005 and two with Argentina, together with one on his worldwide debut that very same yr.

Koeman mentioned after Sunday’s loss that he empathised with Messi’s frustration.

“I can perceive what Messi did,” Koeman mentioned. “I do not know what number of instances they fouled him, and it is regular to react after they maintain making an attempt to foul you as a participant who’s seeking to dribble with the ball, however I must see it once more correctly.”

Barca went into Sunday’s last on the again of a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions and boosted by Messi passing a late health check after lacking the semifinal win over Real Sociedad.

Two Griezmann targets seemed set to increase that run to 10 matches, however the Frenchman’s strikes have been cancelled out by first Oscar De Marcos after which Villalibre earlier than Williams struck a superb winner.

“I’m pissed off, offended, irritated,” Griezmann advised reporters after the defeat, which denied him his first piece of silverware since becoming a member of Barca from Atletico Madrid in 2019.

“I’ve all of the unhealthy emotions you may have after dropping a last. We made errors at set performs, we defended poorly, we did not communicate at free-kicks. They’re vital particulars.”

Koeman tried to place a courageous face on regardless of the loss.

“We’re unhappy and disillusioned however I nonetheless assume we’re on the appropriate path and we’re bettering,” Koeman added.

“Now we have to enhance defensively. We have to be extra dedicated. We won’t let gamers flip, shoot and move. However I’m giving every thing. I am not the worst coach now [after a defeat] identical to I’m not the perfect after a win, nevertheless it’s a tricky one to take.”

For Athletic, it was a primary trophy since they beat Barca to win the Spanish Supercopa in 2015 and it got here in simply the third sport of latest coach Marcelino’s tenure.

“The credit score goes to the gamers,” Marcelino mentioned. “They deserved to be right here for what they did final season and to win these two video games [against Madrid and Barca] is unbelievable.

“I would additionally like to recollect Aritz Aduriz and Mikel San Jose and the opposite gamers that have been right here final season however are now not a part of the squad. And, additionally, the earlier coach [Gaizka Garitano] and his employees.”