Barcelona won the 2021 Copa del Rey and are Spanish Cup champions for the 31st time in their history thanks to a spectacular 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in Sevilla. Barca were the best team from the start and scored four goals in a brilliant second half to win the trophy, and Lionel Messi scored twice in what could be his last final as a Blaugrana – and he lifted the Cup to top it off.
FIRST HALF
Barca got off to a good start to the half, with Frenkie De Jong hitting the post in the 5th minute as the Blaugrana showed real intention to attack and score early on. Barca had almost literally all possession, while Athletic had nine men behind the ball at all times and used physical defense to try and disrupt Barca’s pace.
Dani García threw everything in sight, as both center-backs dove past every shot to make big blocks whenever Barca put up a good attacking shot. The Catalans focused their attack mostly on the left side, with Jordi Alba receiving the ball time and time again to try and find a cross for a teammate, but Bilbao’s defense were always alert to clear crosses.
At half-time Barca had all the possession but only one real chance to score as Athletic survived the first 45 minutes, hoping to score against the run of the game in the second half.
SECOND PART
Barca came out like a ram in the second half, demolishing Athletic’s defense and creating luck after chance. Unai Simón had to make three exceptional saves in the first 10 minutes of half-time to stop Antoine Griezmann, Sergio Busquets and Pedri, and it seems Barca’s goal was a matter of time.
In just 12 minutes there were four: first it was Griezmann at the end of a cross from Frenkie De Jong, then De Jong himself scored a header on a cross from Jordi Alba, and Lionel Messi did. added two, the first after a nice one-two with De Jong and the second from inside the box after a second assist from Alba.
There was still time for a denied goal from Griezmann which could have made it five, but nothing could spoil Barca’s mood as the final whistle came to end the game and give the title to the Catalan giants. What a night, what a performance, what a victory.
Athletic: Simón; De Marcos, Yeray (Núñez 67 ‘), Martínez, Balenziaga; Berenguer (Vesga 54 ‘), López (Yuri 67’), García, Muniain (Lekue 46 ‘); Williams (Villalibre 67 ‘), R. García
Goals: Nothing
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Mingueza (Dembélé 87 ‘), Piqué (Araujo 82’), Lenglet; Dest (Roberto 74 ‘), De Jong, Busquets, Pedri (Moriba 82’), Alba; Messi, Griezmann (Braithwaite 87 ‘)
Goals: Griezmann (60 ‘), De Jong (63’), Messi (68 ‘, 72’)