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Super Cup hero Dembele puts troubled Barca past behind him

Ousmane Dembele endured a problematic first season at Barcelona but, after producing a special goal to win the Catalans the Spanish Super Cup, the Frenchman has started his second firing on all cylinders.

Pablo Sarabia gave Sevilla the lead after just nine minutes on a counter-attack in Tangier, Morocco, yesterday morning (Singapore time).

Gerard Pique, who announced his international retirement with Spain on Saturday, levelled three minutes before the interval for Barcelona after he was fastest to respond to a loose ball following a Messi free-kick.

That set the stage for Dembele to take the headlines as he rifled home a long-range strike to hand Barca their first piece of silverware for the season.

It was a rare moment of joy for the 21-year-old forward since his move from Borussia Dortmund last year for a fee which could rise to 147 million euros (S$231m). A severe hamstring injury kept him out for nearly four months and he suffered another injury setback shortly after returning in January.

When he was fit the winger played tentatively, showing little of the imagination and quality that persuaded Barcelona to sign him as a replacement for Neymar.

Catalan media questioned his professionalism and rumours that he would leave Barcelona circulated even as he lifted the World Cup with France in July.

However, Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde says he counts on Dembele and he started the forward alongside Messi and Luis Suarez against Sevilla.

In the second half, as Barcelona struggled to break down the Andalusians, Dembele took a step forward and became the game's most dangerous player, ramming home the winner in the 78th minute.

"He is with us and we have high expectations for him. He has great quality," Valverde said.

"He scored a goal, which is something to be happy about. As the game went on, he got better." - REUTERS

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