15 Years Since Messi’S Two-Goal Super Cup Show and Mourinho’S Finger in Vilanova’S Eye

The scoreboard read 3–2, Barcelona had won 5–4 on aggregate and Lionel Messi had just delivered the trophy. José Mourinho apparently decided that the night still needed one more unforgettable image. As a result, the 2011 Spanish Super Cup remains famous for much more than its excellent football.

Exactly 15 years ago, Barcelona hosted Real Madrid in the second leg at Camp Nou. The opening match at the Santiago Bernabéu had finished 2–2, leaving everything to be decided in Catalonia. Messi then took control.

The Argentine first produced a brilliant pass for Andrés Iniesta, who lifted the ball over Iker Casillas in the 15th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo equalised five minutes later, but Messi restored Barcelona’s lead before half-time after collecting Gerard Piqué’s backheel.

Madrid refused to disappear. Karim Benzema made it 2–2 in the 82nd minute and the match appeared to be heading for extra time. Six minutes later, Messi ended the argument. Following a move involving Cesc Fàbregas and Adriano, he volleyed home the winning goal.

It was his second goal of the night and his third across the two matches. Barcelona won 5–4 on aggregate and lifted the tenth Spanish Super Cup in the club’s history. Messi had scored at the Santiago Bernabéu, added two more at Camp Nou and created Iniesta’s opener. Not a particularly subtle start to the season.

The closing minutes had very little to do with football. Marcelo launched into a reckless challenge on Fàbregas, who was making his Barcelona debut only two days after joining from Arsenal. The Brazilian was shown a red card and a mass confrontation immediately erupted near the touchline. Mesut Özil and David Villa were also dismissed.

Mourinho then approached Pep Guardiola’s assistant Tito Vilanova from behind and poked him in the eye. Vilanova responded by striking the Portuguese coach on the side of the head. This was not a media interpretation based on a photograph. Television cameras recorded the entire incident.

The Spanish football federation later handed Mourinho a two-match Spanish Super Cup suspension and a €600 fine. Vilanova received a one-match ban and the same fine for his response. Both suspensions were eventually removed in 2012 as part of a general federation amnesty. Even the absurdity received an appropriately administrative conclusion.

The anniversary has gained an additional layer this year. One day after its 17 August date, Mourinho was formally presented as Real Madrid coach and declared: “I’m one of you. I always have been.”

The footage from 2011 is unlikely to disagree.