Barca to appeal Leo Messi red in order to reduce ban

The Spanish Super Cup went to extra-time and Athletic ended up winning the trophy at La Cartuja. Messi had to go for an early bath because he was sent off in the final stages.

The Argentine wanted to get Asier Villalibre off him, and due to frustration and anger, he hit the Athletic Bilbao player. VAR reviewed what happened and Gil Manzano sent him off.

Barcelona are already analaysing all the possible scenarios that can be presented, due to the referee's match report saying that it was a hit with "excessive force" and not an assault, which could favour the Argentine in the number of matches he misses.

According to 'Marca', the club's lawyers have already gotten down to work to make the relevant appeals to the case and will try to reduce as much as possible a ban which, for the time being, is not officially known.

The club hope that the ban is as little as possible and he will be banned immediately, i.e. the Copa del Rey and league matches.

Barcelona already know the reasons that they will explain in their allegations and the result could come this Tuesday.