Leo Messi and Barça don't tire of winning as they seal third consecutive Copa del Rey

Leo Messi and Barça don't tire of winning as they seal third consecutive Copa del Rey

El FC Barcelona no dio opción al Alavés en la final de la Copa del Rey
El FC Barcelona no dio opción al Alavés en la final de la Copa del Rey | sport

Barcelona won their 29th Copa del Rey with a 3-1 win over Alaves

Messi, Alcácer and Neymar scored the goals at the Vicente Calderon

Barcelona end the season with a trophy after beating Alaves 3-1 to win the Copa del Rey for the third consecutive season. 

MATCH FACTS
COPA DEL REY

3 ________________ 1

LINE UP

FC BARCELONA

Cillessen; Mascherano (André Gomes, m. 9), Piqué, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Rakitic (Aleix Vidal, m. 82), Iniesta; Messi, Paco Alcácer y Neymar.

ALAVÉS

Pacheco; Kiko Femenía, Vigaray, Rodrigo Ely, Feddal, Theo Hernández (Romero, m. 79); Edgar Méndez (Camarasa, m. 59), Marcos Llorente, Manu García, Ibai (Sobrino, m. 59); y Deyverson.

GOLES

1-0, m. 30: Messi, con el interior del pie izquierdo desde el borde del área después de una pared con Neymar. 1-1, m. 33: Theo Hernández, de falta directa. 2-1, m. 45: Neymar culmina en el segundo palo un pase de André Gomes. 3-1, m. 48+: Paco Alcácer tras un pase entre la defensa de Messi.

ÁRBITRO

Clos Gómez (C. Aragonés). Amonestó a Umtiti (m. 41), Iniesta (m. 76) y Messi (m. 76), por el Barcelona, y a Edgar (m. 16) y Sobrino (m. 76), por el Alavés.

INCIDENCIAS

final de la Copa del Rey disputada en el estadio Vicente Calderón ante unos 45.000 espectadores.

It sends Luis Enrique off in a fitting manner. After winning eight trophies so far, it’s only fair that he said goodbye with another, taking his tally to nine from a possible 13. 

On the pitch, Lionel Messi was the star of the show in an inspired first half, with his fingerprints over all three of Barca’s goals. 

Theo Hernandez cancelled out Messi’s opening goal, but Barca had a two-goal lead by the break courtesy of goals from Neymar and Paco Alcacer. 

Alaves had their moments in the second half but there were no more goals as Barca held out to win the Copa del Rey for the 29th time in their history, 

Buoyed on by their impressive travelling support, Alaves had started quickly and there plan was obvious: pressure Barca by whatever means necessary, even if that meant bending the rules slightly. 

They came close to scoring, too, when Ibai Gomez’s long range effort beat Cillessen but hit the post, bouncing back of the Dutch goalkeeper and spinning agonisingly wide after rolling along the line.  

Messi then took over, playing a one-two with Neymar before curling brilliantly into the top corner. 

Theo’s stunning free-kick brough Alaves level, but Samuel Umtiti, Messi and Andre Gomes were all involved as Neymar put Barca ahead again. 

And then in first half stoppage time, Messi produced a dazzling run to lay on a third goal for Barca, with Alcacer slotting home from close difference. 

The Basque side rallied after the break and Deyverson had a goal ruled out for offside, but there were no more goals and in the end it was a comfortable win for Barca. 

They will enjoy the night but they will reflect this summer on missed opportunities in La Liga and the Champions League. 

Luis Enrique won’t be around for that, though. This was his adios and on Monday his replacement will be appointed. Football never stops.