FC Barcelona are Copa del Rey champions for the 28th time thanks to a gutsy 2-0 win over Sevilla in extra time on Sunday night at the Estadio Vicente Calderón in Madrid.
Just like their meeting way back in August at the UEFA Super Cup, an unexpected member of the Barcelona squad would turn out to be the hero. On that summer night in Tbilisi, Pedro was the hero with an extra time winner in a 5-4 thriller; on this occasion it was Jordi Alba, whose goal in the 96th minute was the winner for Barcelona. Neymar would then finish the extra period off with a strike in the 122nd minute to seal the crown, with each score coming off superb passes from Lionel Messi.
Out of all the cup titles Barcelona have won in recent years, this was perhaps the most difficult, as a Javier Mascherano red card in the 36th minute saw Barcelona play nearly 90 total minutes with just 10 men. Fifty-six of those minutes were against 11 before the Andalusians were also reduced to 10 in second half stoppage when Éver Banega was sent off and then down to nine men just minutes before the final whistle when Daniel Carriço was red-carded.
It also featured a sensational defensive performance from Barcelona centre-back Gerard Piqué, whose countless interventions allowed Barcelona to keep their heads above water while playing with the man disadvantage. The victory caps another trophy-laden season for Barcelona, who backed up last season's Treble with a league/cup double.
Despite playing just three days prior in the Europa League final, Sevilla boss Unai Emery fielded a full-strength XI, while Barcelona manager Luis Enrique rolled out the same well-rested squad that clinched the league title last weekend. Sevilla showed no effects of fatigue from their midweek triumph over Liverpool and went at Barcelona in the initial stages of the match, while Luis Suárez fired close to Sergio Rico's goal. The first goal should have been scored by Sevilla but somehow Coke contrived to completely fluff a left-footer just after the quarter-hour mark.
Just like their meeting way back in August at the UEFA Super Cup, an unexpected member of the Barcelona squad would turn out to be the hero. On that summer night in Tbilisi, Pedro was the hero with an extra time winner in a 5-4 thriller; on this occasion it was Jordi Alba, whose goal in the 96th minute was the winner for Barcelona. Neymar would then finish the extra period off with a strike in the 122nd minute to seal the crown, with each score coming off superb passes from Lionel Messi.
Out of all the cup titles Barcelona have won in recent years, this was perhaps the most difficult, as a Javier Mascherano red card in the 36th minute saw Barcelona play nearly 90 total minutes with just 10 men. Fifty-six of those minutes were against 11 before the Andalusians were also reduced to 10 in second half stoppage when Éver Banega was sent off and then down to nine men just minutes before the final whistle when Daniel Carriço was red-carded.
It also featured a sensational defensive performance from Barcelona centre-back Gerard Piqué, whose countless interventions allowed Barcelona to keep their heads above water while playing with the man disadvantage. The victory caps another trophy-laden season for Barcelona, who backed up last season's Treble with a league/cup double.
Despite playing just three days prior in the Europa League final, Sevilla boss Unai Emery fielded a full-strength XI, while Barcelona manager Luis Enrique rolled out the same well-rested squad that clinched the league title last weekend. Sevilla showed no effects of fatigue from their midweek triumph over Liverpool and went at Barcelona in the initial stages of the match, while Luis Suárez fired close to Sergio Rico's goal. The first goal should have been scored by Sevilla but somehow Coke contrived to completely fluff a left-footer just after the quarter-hour mark.
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