Copa del Rey

Final

Barcelona 2 – Sevilla 0 (after extra time)

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Dani Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Jordi Alba (Sergi Roberto 120’); Rakitic (Mathieu 46’), Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Luis Suárez (Rafinha 57’), Neymar. 4-3-3.
Sevilla: Sergio Rico; Mariano (Konoplyanka 79’), Rami, Carriço, Escudero; Iborra (Llorente 106’), Krychowiak; Coke, Banega, Vitolo; Gameiro. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 97. Jordi Alba. Ran on to long Messi pass and turned shot across Rico.
2-0. 122. Neymar. Steered angled shot past keeper after Messi passed through.

Yellow cards: Rami 73’, Vitolo 75’, Jordi Alba 87’, Neymar 89’, Dani Alves 90’, Iniesta 90’, Iborra 90+5’, Krychowiak 92’, Konoplyanka 101’, Escudero 103’, Gameiro 114’, Carriço 121’, 121’ / red cards: Mascherano 36’, Banega 90+2’, Carriço 121’.

Barcelona won the cup for the second year in a row and the 28th time in their history after beating Sevilla 2-0 in this year’s final! Both teams came in to this match having already picked up a trophy this season, the Catalans winning the league and the Andalusians beating Liverpool in Wednesday night’s Europa League final, and in accordance with tradition there was a double “pasillo”, each applauding the other on to the pitch. The game got off to a hesitant start, Gameiro and Luis Suárez having the only chances early on, but with eight minutes to go to the break things swung in Sevilla’s favour when Mascherano was sent off for bringing down Gameiro outside of the area. Ter Stegen did well to tip Banega’s free kick over the bar, and Piqué responded with a header over the top at the other end, and a few minutes after the restart Banega fired a long shot against the foot of the post. Soon afterwards Suárez limped off with a hamstring injury, but even so Messi tested Sergio Rico with a couple of free kicks, and Neymar was pulled up twice for questionable offside decisions. Krychowiak and Gameiro had shots blocked by Busquets and Piqué as Sevilla looked to press home the numerical advantage, but with extra time approaching they too were left with ten men after Banega was red-carded for bringing down Neymar. That revitalized Luis Enrique’s side, and seven minutes in to the extension Jordi Alba ran on to a long pass from Messi to turn a shot past Rico. In the next few minutes Rico had to save from Messi, Piqué and Alves, and with a couple of minutes to go referee Del Cerro Grande produced a third red card after a frustrated Carriço insulted him following a booking. The result was still in doubt though until Rafinha and Messi combined to set up Neymar for a second goal with seconds left on the clock. Barça had done the domestic double for the second year in a row, and Sevilla go home empty handed this time, although the two teams will meet again in August for the Spanish Super Cup.