Lionel Messi double fires Barca to Spanish Super Cup triumph

Majestic Lionel Messi volleyed the winner as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 in a fiery Spanish Super Cup second-leg on Wednesday to secure a 5-4 aggregate victory after three players were sent off near the end.

The Argentine World Player of the Year set up Andres Iniesta for the first goal in the 15th minute and, after Cristiano Ronaldo had quickly equalised for the visitors, scampered through to grab the second just before the break.

Karim Benzema put Real level again with nine minutes remaining but the irrepressible Messi guided Barca to victory with an unstoppable volley at the end.

The match finished with a mass brawl on the touchline as tempers boiled over after substitute Cesc Fabregas, making his debut, was hacked down by Marcelo and the Brazilian defender, Mesut Ozil of Real and Barca's David Villa were all sent off.