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Lionel Messi celebrates after putting Barcelona 2-1 up from the penalty spot. Andres Kudacki/AP/Press Association Images

Barcelona take control in Super Cup first leg

Goals from Pedro, Messi and Xavi gave Barcelona a slender 3-2 lead in the first leg of the Spanish Supercopa.

PEDRO RODRIGUEZ, Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez scored second-half goals to give Barcelona a 3-2 first-leg home victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup on Thursday.

The traditional curtain raiser to the new Spanish season was threatening to become a lacklustre affair until Ronaldo put Madrid ahead on 55 minutes.

Barca replied three times before Angel Di Maria capitalised on a Victor Valdes mistake to give Madrid some hope ahead of next week’s second-leg in the Santiago Bernabeu.

(c) AFP, 2012

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