Four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi showed his class and maturity on the night with a terrific performance against an inspired Sevilla side to help the Blaugrana to a double. Manager Luis Enrique has now won seven trophies in his two years as manager of the club.
On the night of a well contested final, it was the veterans who stepped up and showed Sevilla who’s boss, with a superlative performance from the likes of Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi carrying the side through despite Mascherano’s red card and Suarez’s injury.
All going wrong for Barça. Mascherano sent off. Suarez hamstring and Messi a bang on the head which hopefully won’t wipe out his talent.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 22, 2016
Mascherano’s red card is the fastest red card (min 36) to any player in a Copa final #fcblive [via mrchip]
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) May 22, 2016
Barcelona: Have received their first red card since Oct. (Mascherano vs Eibar); in that time they have seen 13 opposition players sent off
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 22, 2016
Tarjeta roja making an entry here as Javier Mascherano takes down Kevin Gameiro on his way through. Easy decision for the ref.
— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) May 22, 2016
Think this has to be the first time we’ve ever seen Luis Suarez injured? Remarkable mindset and work ethic. Hopefully not too serious.
— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) May 22, 2016
Luis Suarez limps off in some pain, and that could be Uruguay’s Copa America campaign taking a big hit
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) May 22, 2016
And so ends Éver Banega’s Sevilla career. Red card for last ditch tackle on Neymar. Off to Inter.
— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) May 22, 2016
First glance I thought Ever Banega may have got the ball but Neymar rolled over 13 times and this time the ref gives it. Last man(?) and red
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) May 22, 2016
As the game trotted into extra-time, Barcelona began to establish their dominance over a tired Sevilla side and it was only a matter of time before a goal came along for the Catalans. And it did in the 96th minute off a brilliant long-ball from Messi picked up by an incoming Jordi Alba, who then slotted the ball past Sergio Rico’s goal.
Jordi alba’s first goal of the season…. What a time to get it #fcblive #CopaDelRey
— Tomilade (@iam_tomilade) May 22, 2016
Alba scores for Barça from one of the passes of the season from Messi.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 22, 2016
Jordi Alba gives Barcelona the lead in extra time of the Copa del Rey final!
Its his 1st goal in 45 games for Barcelona this season.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 22, 2016
That’s Jordi Alba’s first goal of the season!?❤️? assisted by the legend and the one and only. ❤️?❤️???? pic.twitter.com/UwCBwkLQ3v
— shafia rafeah (@Shafiaa_M) May 22, 2016
Lionel Messi. That is all.
— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) May 22, 2016
Barcelona then finished off their opponents with a goal in the 122nd minute as Neymar picked up a well-timed Lionel Messi pass to curl the ball past Sergio Rico to double the Catalans’ lead.
Messi made the foul that got banega red card. messi assisted alba goal. messi assisted Neymar goal. Incredible. Most clutch player ever
— J. (@ElAficionadofcb) May 22, 2016
And yet again, Barcelona’s season ends with Neymar scoring a goal in a cup final in added time.
— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) May 22, 2016
#Neymar just scored his 31st goal of the season, helping Barcelona win the Spanish cup final. Congratulations to all Barcelona’s Brazilians.
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats2) May 22, 2016
Tonight Neymar stepped up and showed he cares, he can sacrifice himself for the team and follow the example of his teammates, true success.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) May 22, 2016
Neymar got a lot of criticism today but he was a big threat, and resulted in the sending off. He kept making runs and it paid off.
— BarcaBlaugranes (@BlaugranesBarca) May 22, 2016
Incredible performance by Neymar, what he’s lacking in football skills he’s compensating with balls tonight. Amazing.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) May 22, 2016
Manager Reactions
Luis Enrique
Another Copa Del Rey success means the former Celta Vigo manager has now won seven trophies since taking over from Gerardo Martino at the beginning of last season. Speaking about the success, Luis Enrique said, “It was great to win like this, with 10 men, and the cup rounds off a magnificent season.We were dealt a setback, but a trophy has followed, along with a very good match for us, and we’re very happy.”
“We’ve finished the season very happily. It’s been a very good season, a magnificent one, and we continue to expand the club’s history. We have the squad to keep winning things. It was a spectacular final. The team is made of champions, I congratulate them.”
Unai Emery
Meanwhile, the Sevilla boss provided calming comments in defeat, stating his comfort in the display. “This team had a lot of ambition, we just lacked freshness,” Emery said. “With a bit more we could have responded even more.”
“We had a good chance, the way the game went, to have won this final. But we were not able to do it. We did not allow Barca to unbalance our defence, we hit the post, also had the chance for [Grzegorz] Krychowiak.”
The manager also had words of appreciation for the phenomenal support his Andalusian side were dished out on the night quoting, “The team has experienced that this year, and the fans have played their part too. “So many Sevillistas in Basel, here in Madrid, and transmits such energy to the team.”
