Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Barcelona thrash Sevilla to win the Spanish Cup

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Madrid: Barcelona won the Spanish Copa del Rey for the fourth season running with a 5-0 win over Sevilla on Saturday night.


Luis Suarez opened the scoring on 14 minutes after keeper Jaspar Cillessen’s long pass down the pitch had sent Philippe Coutinho clear and he had crossed for his old Liverpool team-mate to finish.


On 31 minutes, Lionel Messi made it 2-0 after Jordi Alba back-heeled the ball to him from the byline. Suarez got his second five minutes before half-time when he converted from Messi’s pass.


And Andres Iniesta, playing probably his last final before leaving the club, scored from the tightest angle from Messi’s assist.


He was taken off with a minute left and the whole stadium applauded his performance and his extraordinary trophy-laden career.


By that time Coutinho had scored the fifth. He first scored in open play but the referee had given a penalty so he buried the spot-kick.


Iniesta was in tears on the bench after the ovation that followed his substitution He lifted the cup while Sevilla players were whistled by their own disgruntled supporters.


Iniesta had also hit the crossbar in the first half as Barcelona dominated the game from the first kick.


The performance left supporters wondering why they had not got past Roma in the Champions League.


Asked about the disappointment of not winning in the Champions League Suarez said: “This doesn’t cover up the Roma defeat but if you had said to any fan or player at the start of the season that we would win the double they would have taken it.” Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said: “The players were very determined. We tried to mark out our terrain from the first kick.”


Referring to the Champions League exit at the hands of Roma he added:”There are always cataclysms when big teams lose. But this was another chance to win a title.”


Asked about the outstanding Iniesta he said: “He was extraordinary.It’s a pleasure to see him play. He and Messi are players that makefootball look easier.


“He does things that I would have given my right arm to be able to have done as a player.


“It was the perfect final for us. That is what you want a final to be like. You win the game and you enjoy it.”


Earlier in the league Valencia edged closer to Champions League qualification with a 1-1 draw away to Celta Vigo.


Santi Mina scored against his former club on 59 minutes to put Valencia ahead but Maxi Gomez equalised for Celta four minutes later.


There is a reduced programme in Spain this weekend because of the Copa del Rey final. In the only other game Getafe won 1-0 away to Eibar. — dpa


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