Away goal basis see Barca lift up Spanish Super Cup

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes conjured two stunning saves to deny Atletico Madrid and help the La Liga champions secure a fourth Spanish Super Cup in five years on away goals after a scrappy 0-0 second leg draw at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

After last week’s first leg at the Calderon ended 1-1, expectations of an entertaining spectacle were high when new signing Neymar, who came off the bench to head the equaliser in Madrid, was included in the starting lineup for the first time since joining from Santos.

World Player of the Year Lionel Messi was also back from injury but both struggled to cope with the visitors’ muscular tactics in what turned out to be a poor quality game littered with fouls including the 81st-minute dismissal of Atletico fullback Filipe Luis.

Messi smashed a penalty against the crossbar in the 89th minute after Miranda had bundled substitute Pedro over in the area but Atletico, constantly looking to catch Barca on the break, had the clearer chances from open play. Martino dedicated victory to predecessor Tito Vilanova, who resigned in the summer to continue treatment against cancer.

‘This triumph came about because of what happened last year,’ said Martino. ‘I ended up winning it because of an unfortunate turn of events. This trophy belongs to the players, to Tito Vilanova and the rest of the coaching staff.’ This was Barca’s 11th Super Cup.