Messi leads Barca to Super Cup win over Porto

Reuters: Lionel Messi scored one goal and created another as Champions League winners Barcelona lifted their fourth European Super Cup trophy on Friday after a 2-0 victory over Porto who finished with nine men.

An awful back pass by Colombia midfielder Fredy Guarin was intercepted by Messi and the Argentine slotted the ball in after sidestepping keeper Helton on 39 minutes.

Europa League winners Porto fell further behind when Messi chipped a pass and substitute Cesc Fabregas controlled the ball with his chest before firing in with two minutes left.

Rolando was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 86th minute and Porto team mate Guarin received a straight red card four minutes later for lunging at Javier Mascherano.

Barcelona, who will make a delayed start to their domestic league season when they meet Villarreal on Monday, have now collected two major trophies in 10 days following their Spanish Super Cup triumph over arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Messi, named on Thursday as the inaugural winner of UEFA’s Best Player in Europe award, continued where he left off last season.

Barca, though, proved again they are not a one-man team and even without injured centre backs Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol they looked strong all over the pitch.

They needed to be at their best too, especially early on when Hulk twice went close for Porto in the opening 12 minutes.