Zlatan Ibrahimovic failed to impress as Champions
League winners Barcelona beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 after extra time
in the UEFA Super Cup.
Ibrahimovic, who moved from Inter Milan for £40million
plus Samuel Eto'o, was completely overshadowed by Lionel Messi, who
created the only goal for Pedro Rodriguez in the 115th
minute.
The Swedish striker will need to do much more to justify his
price tag, especially with the likes of exciting young striker
Bojan Krkic pushing for a place.
UEFA Super Cups, the annual match between the winners of the
Champions League and UEFA Cup, have rarely been classics and this
was no exception.
Barcelona had complained about the state of the pitch in the
Stade Louis II stadium and with some justification - it was dry,
rutted and horribly bobbly.
Even so, and even without the injured Andres Iniesta, Barcelona
still dominated against an unadventurous Shakhtar side packed with
hard-running Ukrainians and only mildly spiced up by their four
Brazilians.
Shakhtar did not create a single opening in normal time while
Barca at least showed some intent.
Thierry Henry looked hungry and he was the first to threaten, a
trademark dipped shoulder confusing his marker before he struck a
rising shot which whistled over the crossbar.
Dmytro Chygrynsky, playing his last game for Shakhtar before
joining Barca, gave the ball away to Messi and then went in hard on
the diminutive Argentinian to regain possession.
A quick free-kick from Xavi saw Messi sting the fingers of
Andriy Pyatov in the Shakhtar goal and the keeper recovered quickly
to deny the lurking Henry.
Barcelona claimed for a penalty after Messi's direct free-kick
struck Olexandr Kucher's arm but the referee was unimpressed.
If the first half had been disappointing, there was little to
lift spirits in the second.
Daniel Alves produced a hopeless blast into the stands and then
Ibrahimovic produced his major contribution to the game, falling
like a sniper victim under Olexiy Gai's challenge and bringing a
yellow card for the defender.
With the game drifting towards unwanted extra-time, Barcelona
tried to step up a gear.
Messi hit a fierce left-foot effort that Pyatov could only
parry, and when the ball drifted out to Henry by the left touchline
he took deliberate aim to loop a shot into the far corner but the
Shakhtar keeper climbed just high enough to turn it over.
Ibrahimovic continued to frustrate, failing to pass to Henry
when he was clean through and then collapsing in the area
theatrically under a fair challenge.
Messi lit up the match with a Maradona-like dribble past four
challenges only to be thwarted at the very last moment. Furious, he
became involved in a pushing match with Kucher and both were
booked.
In the 98th minute Victor Valdes made his first save, diving low
to keep out Julius Aghahowa's goal-bound shot.
Bojan, on for Henry, could have wrapped it up with two chances
before, having barely threatened, the Ukrainians were denied a
blatant penalty when Ilsinho was felled.
Shakhtar coach Mircea Luscescu stormed onto the pitch in fury
but it was all in vain as Messi's brilliant pass set up Rodriguez
for the latest of winners.
teamtalk.com
