On Friday, two of La Liga’s biggest, most successful sides; Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, will clash for the 2015 Supercopa de Espana title.
Los Leones will welcome Luis Enrique’s crew to the San Mamés Barria in the first round of this two-legged final, as Ernesto Valvarde looks to get the better of Lionel Messi and Co. ahead of the return fixture at Camp Nou.
However, the Argentine ace is in full confidence and form at the moment, fresh off the Blaugrana’s UEFA Super Cup 2015 5-4 triumph over Sevilla, a tie which saw the four-time Ballon d’Or winner bag two free-kick goals.
Furthermore, last time the 28-year-old clashed with the Basque club, it was in last season’s Copa del Rey final, in which they won 3-1 thanks to a brace from their number 10, one being a stellar solo goal.
All that aside though, stats prove that any side should justifiably be left frozen in peril at the thought of crossing paths with Lionel Messi in a final.
Since making his Barcelona debut back in 2004, he has featured in 20 finals for the Catalan giants, and a whopping 16 of those fixtures ended in the Blaugrana’s favor.
History has shown that defenders can do little to stop La Pulga from scoring on the grand stage, having netted 22 goals in all finals.
Athletic Bilbao can take one positive from Lionel Messi’s records in finals for Barcelona, though, and that is all four of his losses came at the hands of a Spanish side, Real Madrid in 2011 (Copa del Rey), 2012 (Supercopa de Espana), 2014 (Copa del Rey), and Sevilla in 2006 (UEFA Super Cup).
But then again, Athletic Bilbao's defense do not boast the best of records against Messi.
