Every year teams take advantage of breaks in the busy calendar to play friendly matches, be it charity games, invitational tournaments, regional internationals or just general kick-abouts. This Wednesday Barcelona and Espanyol found time to play the first ever Catalan Supercup, a new trophy which was brought in as the big two complained that they didn’t have time to take part in the regional Copa Catalunya. The game took place in Girona, with Piqué heading a Luis Suárez cross to open the scoring and Arbilla equalizing later on with a well struck free kick. That took the match to a penalty shoot out, Barça winning 4-2 with Rakitic firing home the winning spot kick after keepers Masip and Pau López had made saves. For information on other friendly games taking place later this season, see the above link. (29.10.14)