Ousmane Dembele thunderbolt wins Spanish Super Cup for Barcelona

Ousmane Dembele struck a stunning winner for Barcelona as they kicked off their 2018/19 campaign by clinching the Spanish Super Cup against Sevilla in Morocco.

Ernesto Valverde handed starts to summer signings Arthur and Clement Lenglet, but it was Sevilla who started the better of the two sides, with Pablo Sarabia giving the Andalusians the lead just nine minutes in, finding the far corner of the net with a low finish. The goal was initially chalked off for offside, but VAR was used to correctly overturn the decision.

Barcelona restored parity four minutes before the break when Lionel Messi’s free-kick from the edge of the box crashed off the base of the Sevilla post, giving Gerard Pique the simple task of bundling home from close range.

The Catalans had to wait until the 78th minute to take the lead, though, with Dembele lashing home a thunderous strike off the underside of the bar to ultimately give his side a winning start to the season in front of the African crowd.

Sevilla had the opportunity to level the tie again in the 90th minute but Wissam Ben Yedder’s penalty was tame and Marc Andre ter Stegen easily claimed.

This time last year, Real Madrid thumped Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. It hinted at a dominant season for Zinedine Zidane’s side, only for them to ultimately finish third in La Liga. So will Barcelona avoid a similar fate after winning this year’s Spanish Super Cup? Was this performance a sign of things to follow for the Catalans? Will they improve further on last season’s league and cup double?

You’ll no doubt see Dembele’s stunning winner bounce around social media over the next few days. The young Frenchman endured a difficult first season at Barcelona, but despite talk that he could leave the Camp Nou on loan, this was a demonstration of why he is worth preserving with and why the Catalans paid so much to sign him from Borussia Dortmund in the first place. Dembele’s performance was about more than just one brilliant goal, though. He gave Barca the width and outlet they have lacked since the Neymar days.

Barcelona - Ter Stegen 8, Semedo 6, Pique 7, Lenglet 6, Alba 6, Rafinha 6, Busquets 5, Arthur 6, Dembele 8, Messi 6, Suarez 5. Subs - Rakitic 5, Coutinho 6, Vidal,

Sevilla - Vaclik 7, Gomez 6, Kjaer 6, Mercado 6, Navas 5, Mesa 5, Banega 6, Escudero 6, Sarabia 7, Vazquez 6, Muriel 7. Subs - Silva 5, Vidal 6, Ben Yedder 3.

10’ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... NO! Sevilla think they have taken the lead through Sarabia, with the forward finishing into the far corner after some good play from Muriel. But the flag is up for offside!

10’ GOAL! Sevilla 1-0 Barcelona: VAR has been used and has overturned the decision of the linesman! The goal stands. Sarabia's finish into the far corner was excellent. The replays showed that he was in line with Lenglet when the pass was made by Muriel.

27’ LENGLET CHANCE! That was a big opportunity for the centre back to score against his old club. He got on the end of Messi's clipped freekick delivery into the box, but headed over.

38’ SUAREZ... JUST WIDE! That's the best chance of the game so far for Barcelona. Suarez was slotted through, the angle was tight, but he flashes his shot across goal and just wide of the far post.

41’ GOAL! Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona: Pique bundles home the finish! Messi struck the base of the post with a freekick from the edge of the box, but the Barcelona defender was on hand to finish on the rebound from close range. Parity is restored!

43’ WHAT A SAVE! Sevilla very nearly hit back right away, with Muriel crossing for Sarabia to get the shot away about eight yards out. But Ter Stegen gets down to make the low save.

62’ OFF THE TOP OF THE BAR! Inches away from being a second goal for Sevilla. Vazquez gets a glancing header to the delivery to the near post, but the ball spins up and bounces off the top of the bar.

77’ WHAT A DOUBLE SAVE! Vaclik has pulled off a magnificent double save, first to deny Suarez low down and then to get back up off the ground and make the close range save from Messi.

78’ GOAL! Sevilla 1-2 Barcelona: OH MY WORD! What an incredible strike from Dembele! He takes aim from 20 yards, cutting across the ball with his right foot and smashing a finish in off the underside of the crossbar! What an amazing goal from Dembele!

88’ PENALTY KICK TO SEVILLA! What drama! The referee points to the spot after a coming together between Ter Stegen and Vidal.

89’ PENALTY KICK SAVED! Ben Yedder's penalty kick was a poor one and Ter Stegen has the simple task of diving to his left and making the save. Wow, that was atrocious from the Sevilla striker.