Laliga

Messi facing a four-match ban after sending off in Spanish SuperCopa final defeat to Atletic Bilbao

Published

7 months ago

January 18, 2021

Sportelo

Lionel Messi sent off against Atletic Bilbao

Barcelona Superstar, Lionel Messi, could be banned for up to four matches after receiving the first red card of his career in their 3-2 defeat to Athletic Bilbao in Sunday’s Spanish Supercopa final.

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Antoine Griezmann scored twice as Barca looked on course to win Ronald Koeman’s first trophy for the club.

But Asier Villalibre’s 90th-minute equaliser took the game into extra time.

Inaki Williams gave Athletic the lead in the 94th minute, and with time running out, Messi was sent off for hitting out at Villalibre away from the ball.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation’s competition committee will meet this week to decide the fate of Messi suspension.

Messi is certain to miss two matches, but that could be doubled depending on how the competition committee categorise the dismissal.

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when decided this means he will miss Thursday’s Copa trip to third-division side Cornella and next weekend’s fixture against Elche in LaLiga.

If the ban is longer, he would and Barca does not progress he will be unavailable for three Laliga Matches including the games against Athletic at Camp Nou on January 31.