Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a 3-1 win over Alaves in the Copa del Rey final as Luis Enrique finished his reign at the Catalan club on a high.
Enrique clinched his ninth trophy in four years in charge of the Camp Nou club, with a fine farewell also paid to the Vicente Calderon which hosted its final competitive match before Atletico Madrid’s move to their new stadium on the outskirts of the city.
Barcelona's coach Luis Enrique (C) holds up the cup after the team won the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) final football match FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on May 27, 2017. Barcelona won 3-1.
Image credit: Getty Images
Alaves provided stiff opposition for the majority of the first half, with teenager Theo Hernandez equalising with a sensational strike past Jasper Cillessen after Messi’s right footed opener struck from the edge of the box.
Neymar and Paco Alcacer gave Barcelona a two-goal lead with a quick fire double just before the break, and from there the Catalans didn’t look back, holding Alaves at arm’s length all the way until the full time whistle. It gave Enrique the send-off he wanted before taking a well-earned sabbatical from the game.
TALKING POINT
How can Ernesto Valverde measure up to Luis Enrique’s benchmark? Despite the 2016/17 season being a largely disappointing one for Barcelona, Enrique ended his tenure on a positive note by winning the Copa del Rey. New manager Ernesto Valverde is widely expected to be announced as his successor on Monday, but how can the former Athletic Bilbao manager possibly measure up to the standard that has been set?
Ernesto Valverde
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) In this form, there’s nobody in world football who can match Messi. The Argentine was quiet early on, but grew in stature as the first half progressed, making his mark with a hand in all three Barcelona goals. Messi isn’t just the best player in the world, but the most influential player as well. He is the player around which the Catalans revolve. Without him, there is no Barca.
Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Copa Del Rey Final between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves at Vicente Calderon stadium on May 27, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Barcelona - Cillessen 5, Mascherano 4, Pique 5, Umtiti 6, Alba 7, Rakitic 6, Busquets 7, Iniesta 6, Messi 8, Alcacer 7, Neymar 7. Subs - Gomes 7, Vidal 5.
Alaves - Pacheco 7, Femenia 6, Rodrigo 6,, Vigaray 5, Feddal 6, Theo 7, Llorente 7, Manu 6, Gomez 6, Mendez 5, Deyverson 5. Subs - Romero 5, Camarasa 5, Sobrino 5.
KEY MOMENTS
12’ HEAD KNOCK! That's a sore one for both Mascherano and Llorente, but it's the Barcelona player who has come off worse. The Argentine has blood pouring from his head. Oh dear.
25’ HOW DIDN'T THAT GO IN?! Gomez makes the most of a mistake from Pique, striking at goal from just inside the box. But it hit the box, dribbled across the line and couldn't be squeezed in.
31’ GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Alaves: There's the opener and what an opener it is! The one two between Neymar and Messi was brilliant, and the Argentine sweeps home a right footed finish from 20 yards out. Great finish!
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C) celebrates after scoring the opener during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) final football match FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on May 27, 2017.
Image credit: Getty Images
33’ GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Alaves: Wow, wow, wow! What a strike from the teenager! Theo lines up the freekick from just outside the box and finds the top corner of the Barcelona net with a sensational shot. No chance for Cillessen.
45’ GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Alaves: Barcelona cut open the Alaves defence with an excellent passing move. Messi plays the ball out to the right for Gomes, who slips the pass to the back post for Neymar to finish into the empty net from close range.
48’ GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Alaves: What a run and pass from Messi! Barcelona have a two goal advantage, with Alcacer slotted in behind the Alaves defence before spinning and finishing past Pacheco in the Alaves goal.
Paco Alcacer of FC Barcelona scores his team's third goal during the Copa Del Rey Final between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves at Vicente Calderon stadium on May 27, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
53’ BIG STOP! Messi surges away from his marker and plays an excellent ball to the back post for Alcacer. The striker stretches to send a shot towards goal, but Pacheco makes the save.
70’ WHAT A CHANCE! A long throw in into the Barcelona penalty area falls to Sobrino about 10 yards out, but his shot was poor and the block is made. It was going over the crossbar.
KEY STATS
Neymar became the first player to score in three consecutive Copa finals (2017, 2016 and 2015) since Ferenc Puskas (1962, 1961 and 1960).
Lionel Messi became the first player to score in four different Copa finals since Telmo Zarra.
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