Messi serves up another Cup

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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://e01-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/23/14639549468317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://e01-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/23/14639549468317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />

Messi serves up another Cup

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 Estadi...

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Lionel Messi continues to set new records

Lionel Messi continues to set new records and Sunday's 2-0 extra-time victory over Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final marked a 30th title for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.<br /><br />Such a figure puts the 28-year-old one clear of Brazilian icon Pele, and with what should be several good years left ahead in his career, it is scary to think how many Messi may end up with.<br /><br />The Rosario-born forward created both goals in extra-time to down Sevilla and claim a fourth Copa del Rey title, to go with his eight league titles, six Supercopas, four Champions Leagues, three European Supercopas and three Club World Cups with the Catalan club.<br /><br />These 28 trophies combined with Messi's Olympic gold medal and under-20 World Cup title with Argentina take his overall tally to 30.<br /><br />Pele, often still referred to as the greatest player of all-time, claimed 29 titles and while most were restricted to South American football, the Brazilian crucially lifted three World Cups.<br /><br />This latest triumph for Messi takes him clear of Pele and other greats such as Johan Cruyff and Maradona but major honours at international level still elude him.<br /><br />Lionel Messi's success has come almost exclusively in Barcelona colours but this summer the 28-year-old will lead La Albiceleste at the Copa America before perhaps a final shot at the World Cup in 2018.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://e02-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/23/14639548519941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://e02-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/23/14639548519941.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />

Lionel Messi continues to set new records

Lionel Messi continues to set new records and Sunday's 2-0 extra-time victory over Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final marked a 30th title...

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Ronald Koeman has suggested the key to the success

<span class="capital-letter">R</span>onald Koeman has suggested the key to the success of <strong>Johan Cruyff's historic Barcelona side was the good feeling inside the dressing room.</strong><br /> <br /> The Dutchman was a key figure in the team and scored the memorable winning goal at Wembley to deliver Barcelona their first ever European Cup.<br /> The former defender spoke of how the bond the players shared together actually made the team more successful.<br /> "Besides the quality of the players, in all those years we have a good feeling in the locker room, this was very important," he stated.<br /> <figure class="multimedia-item photo-decoration" itemprop="image" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><img class="full-image" itemprop="contentUrl" src="http://e02-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/12/14630672077408.jpg" width="660" /></figure> "The group of players were excellent and our great relationship off the field actually united us and came through in performances on the field."<br /> Cruyff is fondly remembered as the mastermind behind the team's monumental rise to continental success and Koeman attributes the success to the coach's ability to balance the team.<br /> "We created a great team because the players had a good balance. On the one hand there were some foreign players and there was a balance between the Spanish players" he said.

Ronald Koeman has suggested the key to the success

R onald Koeman has suggested the key to the success of Johan Cruyff's historic Barcelona side was the good feeling inside the dressing r...

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Luis Suarez embarrasses journalist

Luis Suarez embarrassed a journalist on Thursday as he delivered a stinging retort following a question about his slump in form.<br /><br />The forward was asked whether or not his trip to Uruguay had affected his performance and was the reason why he hadn't scored as many goals.<br /><br />Suarez wouldn't entertain the idea and simply dismissed the question.<br /><br />"You have chosen the wrong question" Suarez joked.<br /><br />The question itself seemed odd given the fact just five days after arriving back from Uruguay, Suarez scored two goals in the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico.

Luis Suarez embarrasses journalist

Luis Suarez embarrassed a journalist on Thursday as he delivered a stinging retort following a question about his slump in form. The forward...

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El Arabi: I pray to win this game

The Moroccan forward hopes that his team can repeat the achievement of two years ago, when the Andalusians pulled off a surprising 1-0 victory.<br /><br />"If your job is to play football, then I ask to score goals, to win this game and for everything to go well," said El-Arabi in an interview with MARCA.<br /><br />Granada beat Barcelona in mid-April at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes during the 2013/14 season and the Catalans then went on to concede the title to Atletico Madrid.<br /><br />"My friend Brahimi scored a goal in the first half and in the second we parked the bus," laughed El-Arabi.<br /><br />The attacker grew up admiring the stars of Barcelona, but he won't let that get in the way of his own ambitions.<br /><br />"My idol is Ronaldo 'El Fenomino', who I remember well from his time at Barcelona, although he also played for Real Madrid," El-Arabi said.<br /><br />The striker has played for three seasons at Granada and he wants to spend another year at the club, even if he catches the attention of more glamourous sides in this match.<br /><br />"This is my home.<br /><br />"I have a year left, now I'm very focused on the match with Barcelona which will be seen around the world."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

El Arabi: I pray to win this game

The Moroccan forward hopes that his team can repeat the achievement of two years ago, when the Andalusians pulled off a surprising 1-0 victo...

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Barcelona suspend parade for security reasons

Barcelona have decided to suspend a victory parade scheduled for Saturday night, scheduled in case they win La Liga in their final game against Granada.<br /><br />The club has cited security concerns as the cause of the decision not to follow the schedule.<br /><br />In reality there are three possible reasons for the decision from the Catalan club.<br /><br />The team would not arrive until after 11pm, and it would be very late to hold such an event.<br /><br />Moreover, it would coincide with the end of the Bruce Springsteen concert in the Camp Nou, as well as the Formula One Grand Prix which is due to take place this weekend.<br /><br />Now the club is considering the possibility of postponing the celebrations until after the final of the Copa del Rey on Sunday May 22.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://e04-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/13/14631336002650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://e04-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/13/14631336002650.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />

Barcelona suspend parade for security reasons

Barcelona have decided to suspend a victory parade scheduled for Saturday night, scheduled in case they win La Liga in their final game agai...

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Ben Arfa: My future is not decided yet

The 29-year-old has scored 17 goals this season, and his club confirmed last week that the Blaugrana are interested in signing him when his contract runs out in June.<br /><br />In a live Facebook chat for Eurosport, Ben Arfa denied having already put pen to paper with the Catalans.<br /><br />"I have not signed for Barcelona," he said.<br /><br />"There is a lot of noise, but I would prefer not to talk about my future.<br /><br />"The most important thing is the end of the season."<br /><br />Nice trail Monaco by two points for the final Champions League spot heading into the final week of the season, but Ben Arfa said that a third-place finish would not influence his decision.<br /><br />"Whether or not we qualify for the Champions League, my future is not decided," he said.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://e02-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/11/14629749519315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://e02-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/11/14629749519315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />

Ben Arfa: My future is not decided yet

The 29-year-old has scored 17 goals this season, and his club confirmed last week that the Blaugrana are interested in signing him when his ...

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Suarez: I never imagined I'd score goals at Barcelona

<strong>The Uruguayan has scored a league-leading 37 goals this season</strong>, and is a large part of the reason why the Blaugrana enter the final weekend on top of the La Liga table.<br /> But as his second season in Catalonia winds down, the 29-year-old said that he had low expectations after transferring from Liverpool.<br /> "I never imagined that I would be scoring goals here, I never felt I would adapt to this team's style of play the way I have," he explained in an interview with ESPN.<br /> "Sometimes they start the moves and I think that I can't do that, that they will play it like that and I will just push it [toward the goal].<br /> <figure class="multimedia-item photo-decoration" itemprop="image" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><img class="full-image" itemprop="contentUrl" src="http://e01-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/11/14629768751029.jpg" width="660" /></figure> Suarez scored twice against Espanyol last weekend to retain a four goal lead over Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Pichichi trophy.<br /> He has 11 goals in his last four matches, but attributed his recent form to the unselfish play of his fellow strikers.<br /> "The entire team deserves the credit for my streak," he said.<br /> "Now my teammates look for me because they know I am in the running.<br /> Leo [Messi] and Neymar give me the penalty kicks, which shows that the team sees what I am capable of over these last few games and they want me to score."<br /> <figure class="multimedia-item photo-decoration" itemprop="image" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><img class="full-image" itemprop="contentUrl" src="http://e03-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/11/14629770348600.jpg" width="660" /></figure> Barcelona need to win their final match of the season at Granada on Saturday to clinch a second-straight La Liga title.<br /> "Winning now depends upon us, and we are aware that we are one match away from winning the league, which was our main goal from the beginning of the season," Suarez said.<br /> "In February people said, 'well, now you have La Liga wrapped up and you can go after the Champions League.'<br /> "But then we had that dip in form and that's football, we didn't win and then we knew our nice lead was lost.

Suarez: I never imagined I'd score goals at Barcelona

The Uruguayan has scored a league-leading 37 goals this season , and is a large part of the reason why the Blaugrana enter the final weekend...

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Neymar close to penning lucrative new deal

The Spanish champions are desperate to tie the Brazilian to a new contract, as discussions over his release fee led to doubts over the 24-year-old's future.<br /><br />According to El Mundo Deportivo, the new three year contract extension will include a hefty 220 million euro release clause as the club look to deter any potential suitors.<br /><br />The contract talks have been ongoing for months, and with the player embroiled in tax issues over the season, clubs such as Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly been eyeing up a move for the attacker's services.<br /><br />Neymar has enjoyed another excellent season registering 27 goals and 15 assists, and is set to be rewarded with a pay rise in his new deal, one which the Camp Nou club are hoping to wrap up once the league season has been concluded.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://e01-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/11/14629784191568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://e01-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/11/14629784191568.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />

Neymar close to penning lucrative new deal

The Spanish champions are desperate to tie the Brazilian to a new contract, as discussions over his release fee led to doubts over the 24-ye...

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Gaspart: Real Madrid harm football

The Catalan has hit out at claims that Barcelona may try to bribe Granada ahead of their crucial game this weekend, which decides who will win La Liga, and also denied that Barcelona used illegal means to procure the title in the 90s when he was at the club.<br /><br />"The only thing Real Madrid do is harm football. If I was a Granada player I'd be offended, because it insinuates that I could be bought, it's an indecent campaign," said the 71-year-old.<br /><br />He added that he doubts such things could happen in the game, but that if that were the case, then proven action would have to be taken.<br /><br />"I believe in football and its honesty. If such things are discovered, though - through secure investigations - then the clubs involved will have to be punished," Gaspart stated.<br /><br />The ex-Blaugrana chief also spoke about allegations that Barcelona rewarded Tenerife with millions of euros in the 1990s, after they beat Real Madrid on the final day to give his club the title.<br /><br />"Whoever says that is a liar.<br /><br />"All Barcelona did was invite Tenerife to [pre-season trophy] the Gamper, not a euro was paid," remarked the businessman.<br /><br />Gaspart said that he is confident both Granada and Deportivo La Coruna, who face Real Madrid this weekend, will be trying as hard as they can to prevent their respective opponents from lifting the silverware.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://e03-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/11/14629842176254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://e03-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/11/14629842176254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />

Gaspart: Real Madrid harm football

The Catalan has hit out at claims that Barcelona may try to bribe Granada ahead of their crucial game this weekend, which decides who will w...

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Mascherano: We're not only playing against the opposition

With Real Madrid hot on their heels in the league, the Argentine and his men know that they must not falter this weekend amidst the intense pressure.<br /><br />"Ultimately, we're not only playing against the opposition, but ourselves," he told ESPN on Wednesday.<br /><br />"We're a unit and we know it all depends on us, that it will be a tough game like the others we've had in the last few weeks.<br /><br />"There will be no margin for error, and that means we'll try to go out in the best way possible to avoid any accidents."<br /><br />Granada will have nothing to play for on Saturday, having already secured a finishing position above the relegation zone after a stunning 4-1 win at Sevilla last weekend.<br /><br />"We know that it will be complex playing against a team who have nothing to play for, but we should be afforded more freedom and time."<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://e03-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/11/14629890800150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://e03-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/05/11/14629890800150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />

Mascherano: We're not only playing against the opposition

With Real Madrid hot on their heels in the league, the Argentine and his men know that they must not falter this weekend amidst the intense ...

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