BARCELONA: A magical Lionel Messi goal, the first of a personal double, led Barcelona to the Copa del Rey title with a 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, giving the Catalans their second of three possible trophies before they turn to the Champions League final.

The Argentine skipped superbly past four players in a mazy run after 20 minutes before shooting venomously into the bottom corner of the net beyond keeper Iago Herrerin to claim his 33rd goal in his 50th appearance for Barca in the competition.

Messi has been in top form in the second half of the season and again provided the inspiration for his team who went 2-0 up when Brazilian Neymar slotted the ball into an open goal having been set up by Uruguay’s Luis Suarez in the 36th minute.

With the Bilbao defence dozing, Messi nipped in to clip home a Dani Alves cross after 74 minutes.

A flicked Inaki Williams header gave the Basque side a consolation strike with 10 minutes to go before tempers frayed following some showmanship and play-acting from Neymar as Barca claimed their record 27th cup title — and third in seven years, all at the expense of Bilbao.

Barca won La Liga two weeks ago and, led by Luis Enrique, have now won two major trophies for the first time since 2011. They finished last season without a major piece of silverware under former coach Gerardo Martino.

They will have a chance to make it a rare treble when they meet Juventus for the European Cup in Berlin next Saturday.

“We have two, and now we want the third. That is the mentality of this team and this club,” Luis Enrique said. “Messi is the best player in the world, even though we are used to him. I saw his first goal up close, but I am eager to watch it again later.”

BARCELONA’S Andres Iniesta (L) and Xavi lift the trophy after winning the Copa del Rey final.—Reuters

That goal was pure Messi: A unique combination of skill, speed and daring. The Argentine appeared to be hemmed in when three defenders surrounded him on the right sideline but, instead of passing, Messi took them all on.

He dribbled through the semicircle formed by Mikel Balenziaga, Mikel Rico and Benat Etxebarria, streaked into the area, changed foot to avoid Aymeric Laporte’s challenge, and then slotted a left-footed strike between the goalkeeper and the near post.

“If Messi isn’t unstoppable, he is almost unstoppable, he conditions everything you do,” said Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde.

Barca then began to find more openings and a well-worked move saw Ivan Rakitic find Suarez in the area and he rolled the ball square for Neymar to score with ease.

Perhaps with one eye on next weekend’s Champions League final, Luis Enrique’s team concentrated on keeping possession in the second half as Bilbao flagged. Messi took advantage with his second goal before Williams headed in for Bilbao.

Xavi Hernandez played his last match at Camp Nou and took his club record for total appearances to 766 after going on as a second-half substitute.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2015

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