BILBAO: Athletic Bilbao roared to a stunning 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup after striker Aritz Aduriz picked apart the European champions with a second-half hat trick on Friday.

It was Barca’s biggest loss under coach Luis Enrique, whose decision to start several reserve players helped the Basque hosts keep Lionel Messi in check.

Before Aduriz turned it into a rout, Mikel San Jose set the tone in the 13th minute by lobbing Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s long clearance back over the goalkeeper’s head with a shot from inside the centre circle.

Barcelona will have to rebound on Monday at the Nou Camp to keep alive their quest to repeat the six titles in one year won in former coach Pep Guardiola’s first season.

“If somebody is capable of turning this result around, it’s Barca,” Luis Enrique said. “I made rotations to my squad. I accept the responsibility for the loss without hesitation. Of course I am concerned about the goals we have conceded. We will try to correct that.”

Luis Enrique has his work cut out for him.

Last May, Barca beat Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey with Messi scoring a spectacular goal before adding a second strike for a 3-1 win.

That Barca squad was unrecognizable on Friday night, and not just in its faces. Apart from flashes by Messi, his players looked unfit, unfocused and uninspired for a second time game this week.

Luis Enrique shuffled his starting 11 from Tuesday’s European Super Cup in Tbilisi, when Barca’s players tired and squandered a 4-1 lead before Pedro Rodriguez netted in extra time for a 5-4 victory over Sevilla.

That gave them four straight titles to go with the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey from last season.

But those exertions clearly took their toll as an under-strength side was dominated from the off by the Basques and Barca went behind after a stunning drive by San Jose sailed over Ter Stegen.

Aduriz headed his first after 53 minutes and then sloppy defending allowed him to drive Bilbao’s third in the 62nd.

Dani Alves then fouled Xabier Etxeita and Aduriz sent Ter Stegen the wrong way from the penalty spot to complete his treble after 68 minutes.

“To score four against Barcelona is almost impossible. We are very satisfied with our work but the second leg is still to come and it is going to be very tough,” Aduriz told Spanish TV station Telecinco.

“We cannot think that Barca in their stadium can’t score four goals. They are the best and capable of doing anything.”

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play