All square between the league & cup champions

 The Spanish Super Cup final returned to the Vicente Calderon for the late Wednesday night kick off but the late start didn’t pit of the fans as they packed in to the stadium full of anticipation. A full house welcomed the players on to the pitch and an unchanged starting 11 from the weekends win over Sevilla saw David Villa lining up against his old side.

The game started with a level of intensity now expected by Simeone’s men and their aggressive pressing didn’t allow Barcelona to settle in to the game. Constantly hurrying the Catalan visitors Atleti were quick to pounce on any mistake and looked shape on the break. This approach was forcing Barca in to uncharacteristic long balls in to the box and one of thse in the 8th minute saw goalkeeper Courtois come out brave to collect but in the process he collided with his centre back Miranda. Fortunately the Brazilian was quick to his feet and able to carry on. He had to be switched on as Tata Martino’s side were throwing the crosses in to the box and from one of them the first chance of the game came. It was a deep cross from Messi which was flicked on by Jordi Alba, Pedro managed to get a shot off but it was an easy take for the Belgian international goalkeeper.

If Barcelona were controlling possession, it was Atletico Madrid who looked the more dangerous of the two teams and a fabulous break from the home side saw Villa receive the ball in his own half, he played a double one-two with Arda Turan who burst down the left wing and delivers a pinpoint cross to Villa who arrived on the edge of the area to dispatch a world class volley in to the back of Victor Valdez’s goal. A precision counter attack for Simeone’s men and a 1-0 lead after 12 minutes.

The noise levels in the Calderon were through the roof and Villa looked unstoppable and full of confidence. This confidence was displayed on the 17th minute when he tried to catch out Valdez with a quick free kick that he struck directly from the half way line. The effort was just inches over the Barca bar as the keeper scurried back. Just a minute later Villa was linking up with his team mates again. Great combination play saw him bearing down on the keeper but the two Barcelona central defenders Mascerano & Pique managed to close out his space before he could release the shot.

Barcelona tried to find a reply and halfway through the first half Messi shot from distance but it was high and wide and never troubling Courtois. Just a few moments later a cross from the Barcelona right from Dani Alves was just centimetres to high for Alexis and the ball flashed across the Atleti goal area.

There were two booking before the end of the first half, one for each team. The first for Juanfran after a foul on Alexis the Busquets for Barcelona after bringing down Mario Suarez as the Atleti midfielder looked to break quickly.

The final act of the first half was a short corner that Atleti looked to work short but the half time whistle went and Simone’s side went in to the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.

The teams came ou in the second half and the visitors had been forced in to a change with the injured Messi being replaced by Cesc Fabrigas who had an opportunity in the 49th minute when the ball fell to him after Courtois had pulled off a good save to keep out Alexis, but as the former Arsenal man was about to pull the trigger, Arda Turan was back to make an important last ditch intervention.

Just 7 minutes in to the second half, Atleti had a chance to double their lead when a free kick from Koke was swung in invitingly and Miranda looked to get his head on it to and turn it goal bound but it just missed the head of the Brazilian central defender.

On the hour mark Tata Martino made his second change of the night, bringing on big summer signing Neymar but his first job was to help his side defend and Atleti corner. Koke it was who took the set piece which was half cleared but the home side kept the pressure on and nice combination play down the right saw Miranda help the ball on to Turan who played in Costa and the big Brazilian got off his shot from a tight angle but Valdes stop firmly.

The game really heated up and a foul from Sergio Busquets looked to be enough for him to get his second yellow card but on this occasion the match referee kept his cards in his pocket much to the annoyance of the home fans and players alike. This spurred Atleti on and soon after Jordi Alba fouled Diego Costa and this time the official produced a yellow card for the Spanish left back.

In the 66th minute the equalising goal came for Barcelona after a great cross from Dani Alves from the right wing cleared everyone until substitute Neymar arrived to head past Courois at the near post to make it 1-1.

Atletico Madrid continued to look dangerous on the break and an inch perfect pass from Adra Turan was played in to the path of David Villa and out of the reach of Gerard Pique but the Barca defender did enough to direct Villa away from goal making his shot a difficult one, the Asturian striker managed to hit the target but again Valdes saved well.

Diego Simeone introduced fresh legs as he tried to snatch a winner bringing on Oliver Torres, Leo Baptistao and Cristian Rodrguez who all injected energy in to the game but they couldn’t find the breakthrough and the full time whistle went on an exhilarating game with the score poised at 1-1 with the return leg to be played in 7 days time at the Camp Nou.