BARCELONA have the chance to pick up their first piece of silverware this season as they face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey final NOW.
- Start time: 8pm GMT
- TV/Live stream: Premier Sports 1
- Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Dest, Pique, Busquets, Griezmann, Messi, Lenglet, Pedri, Alba, De Jong, Mingueza.
- Athletic Bilbao XI: Simon, Balenziaga, Martinez, Yeray, De Marcos, Munain, Lopez, Garcia, Berenguer, Garcia, Williams.
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
THANKS FOR JOINING US
That’s all from us tonight as four Barcelona goals in the space of twelve second half minutes swept aside Athletic Bilbao in Sevilla.
Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring from a fine Frenkie de Jong pass, before the Dutchman got on the scoresheet himself by heading home a Jordi Alba cross.
From there Lionel Messi took over, scoring an incredible first goal made by brilliant link up play between him and Antoine Griezmann.
Messi then scored his second as he sidefooted a Jordi Alba pass into the back of the net from the edge of the box to secure a 31st Copa Del Rey title for Barcelona.
Attention for Ronald Koeman and Co. now turns to La Liga where the Catalan club are currently third, two points off top spot.
Next up for them is a home clash with Getafe on Thursday evening.
Athletic Bilbao meanwhile have to dust themselves off after losing a second Cope Del Rey final in the space of two weeks and concentrate on breaking into the top half of La Liga.
Their next game is away to Real Betis on Wednesday evening.
That’s all from us for now though.
Thanks for joining us, it’s been a pleasure.
OLD GUARD
Two of Barcelona’s ever-presents celebrate alongside Barcelona’s 31st Copa Del Rey title.
Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have almost 1,400 Barcelona appearances between them.
That is incredible.
FIRST OF MANY?
Tonight’s Copa Del Rey success is also the first silverware Antoine Griezmann has got his hands on as a Barcelona player.
He’s had his critics since arriving from Atletico but he was superb tonight and unlucky to have his late strike ruled out for offside after opening the scoring on the hour mark.
Credit: Reuters
HANDS ON THE PRIZE
Lionel Messi collects the Copa Del Rey trophy and sets off towards his waiting teammates.
They’ll be hoping to kick on from here and leapfrog the two Madrid sides in the La Liga title race that looks like it’s going to go right down to the wire.
DON’T DROP IT
Lionel Messi makes his way down the stand and back onto the pitch with the Copa Del Rey trophy.
Credit: AFP Credit: AFP ON YOUR OWN
Lionel Messi was not joined for the trophy lift by his teammates and instead had to raise the trophy alone.
He didn’t seem to mind though.
GREATEST EVER?
Lionel Messi steps forward to collect his SEVENTH Copa Del Rey trophy.
You just run out of words to describe him.
Some of the football he played this evening was truly special.
Credit: Reuters Credit: Reuters CELEBRATIONS
The Barcelona players celebrate at full time after a comfortable 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey final.
Four goals in twelve second half minutes from Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong and a Lionel Messi brace saw the Catalan club sweep aside Athletic Bilbao.
Credit: Reuters TROPHY LIFT
Lionel Messi climbs into the stands at La Cartuja to collect the trophy on his own.
His teammates are gathered on the pitch below.
Messi lifts the enormous trophy into the air to the cheers of his teammates and runs down to join them!
Barcelona are 2020-21 Copa Del Rey winners!
FIRST SILVERWARE
Tonight’s Copa Del Rey success is Ronald Koeman’s first piece of silverware as manager of Barcelona.
But will he still be in charge next season?
MAN OF THE MATCH
Lionel Messi steps forward at full time and collects the man of the match award.
No surprises there.
Credit: AP CHAMPIONS
Here are the full time scenes as a Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona secured a 31st Copa Del Rey title.
MASTERFUL MESSI
As he has been so many times before Lionel Messi was by far the best player on the pitch tonight.
His brace this evening means he’s scored in eight Copa Del Rey finals, winning seven of them.
It’s an incredible feat from a quite incredible player.
Credit: Reuters FT: ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-4 BARCELONA
The celebrations began on the Barcelona bench well before the full time whistle blew.
A quick fire four goals in twelve second minutes stunned Athletic and secured a record 31st Copa Del Rey title for Barcelona.
PEEEEP! THAT’S FULL TIME!
ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-4 BARCELONA!
BARCELONA WIN THE COPA DEL REY!
ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-4 BARCELONA
90. Two minutes of injury time are signalled by the fourth official.
ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-4 BARCELONA
87. The disallowed goal turns out to be Griezmann’s final involvement as Martin Braithwaite is on to replace him.
Dembele is also on for Mingueza.
Two and a half minutes left to play.
GOAL DISALLOWED!
IT WON’T COUNT!
GREIZMANN IS JUST OFFSIDE!
ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-5 BARCELONA
86. It’s a well taken goal.
He’s played through by Messi and rounds Simon to bag his second of the evening.
VAR are having a look to see if Griezmann is offside from Messi’s pass.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLL!
THERE IS THE FIFTH!
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN SCORES AGAIN!
ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-4 BARCELONA
85. Five minutes to play.
Athletic Bilbao have accepted they’re beaten and are just letting Barcelona knock the ball around now.
Ronald Koeman’s side are still hunting a fifth.
ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-4 BARCELONA
83. CLOSE!
Raul Garcia is unmarked from a Bilbao corner and has a free effort at goal.
His header is too powerful into the ground though and it bounces over Ter Stegen’s crossbar.
That’s Bilbao’s best chance of the game so far.
ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-4 BARCELONA
81. Barca substitutions.
The game is done so Pique and Pedri are replaced as Ronald Koeman starts to rest his players.
Araujo and Moriba are on in their place for the last ten minutes.
ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-4 BARCELONA
80. Eighty minutes left to play in Sevilla.
The scoreline now reflects Barcelona’s dominance.
Lionel Messi has been on a different planet at times this evening.
MAGICIAN
Lionel Messi has now scored in EIGHT Copa Del Rey finals.
He’s now also scored thirty goals or more in THIRTEEN consecutive seasons.
Credit: Reuters Credit: Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
