Copa del Rey - Barcelona storm to Copa glory

Eurosport - Wed, 13 May 23:29:00 2009

Barcelona stayed on course for a historic treble by crushing Athletic Bilbao 4-1 at the Mestalla Stadium to lift the Copa del Rey for the first time in over a decade.

2008-2009 Copa del Rey Barcelona celebrate - 0

Gaizka Toquero headed Athletic into a ninth-minute lead, but Yaya Toure equalised with a great solo goal and then Barca blitzed their rivals with three goals from Lionel Messi, Bojan Krkic and Xavi in 12 minutes to lift the cup for the first time since 1998.

It was coach Pep Guardiola's first trophy as a manager and Barcelona's first piece of silverware in two seasons although the Ligatitle could soon follow with only a point needed at Real Mallorca on Sunday to secure a 19th championship.

"We hope it's an historic week and we will go for the second title this weekend," said defender Gerard Pique. "We just want to enjoy this win first and then concentrate on trying to win more titles."

The final part of the treble - which no Spanish team has ever achieved - is the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 27.

For Athletic, who have won the cup 23 times, it was bitter disappointment in their first final since 1985.

Barcelona were without Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry through injury so Bojan, 18, started the final.

At the back, Carles Puyol switched to left-back to replace the suspended Eric Abidal while midfielder Toure was deployed at centre-half.

The last time these two sides met in the final was back in 1984 when Athletic won 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, although the game was remembered more for the post-match brawl between a number of players, including the great Diego Maradona in what was his final game for Barcelona.

There was little animosity between the two sides 25 years on although Barca were furious at the constant fouling suffered by Messi.

If Barcelona have a weakness it is set-pieces and Bilbao exploited that early on with Toquero heading in a whipped-in corner after just nine minutes.

It was just the start Barcelona didn't want although Guardiola's side should have equalised in the 19th minute when Samuel Eto'o, the league's top-scorer, got the ball caught up between his feet and the chance went begging.

Toure showed Eto'o the way forward after 31 minutes, surging from central defence before beating two Athletic players and then dispatching a fierce right-footed shot into the corner.

Messi twice went close to scoring early in the second half and finally got his goal in the 54th minute after Athletic failed to clear their lines.

Barca turned the screw with Bojan netting three minutes later with an immaculate finish after Athletic got caught out on the counter attack.

Xavi curled in a superb free-kick off the post in the 64th minute to torment Athletic further as Barca lifted their 25th Copa.

AFP

Comment 30 - 49 of 69

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  1. Just crush United in the Champs league and I will be­ very very happy.
    Just watch how Liverpool destroyed­ them on Video and copy them.

    From Kristina, on Thu 14 May 10:22AM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I'M BIG MADRID FAN
    YOU CAN SAY REAL IS MY SOUL AND­ BLOOD
    I'M ONLY FLESH WITHOUT REAL
    BUT I KNOW ABOUT­ BARCA MORE THAN ALL OF YOU HERE WHO ARE SAYING THAT YOU­ ARE BARCA FAN
    AND IF THERE IS A TRUE BARCA HERE PROVE­ TO ME THAT I'M WRONG AND ANSWER THIS QUASTION
    IF I­ DIDN'T FIND WHO ANSWER THEM, I'LL BE SURE THAT­ ALL OF YOU ARE NOT A TRUE BARCA FAN
    1 WHO WON THE­ PICHICHI WITH BARCA BEFORE ETO'O?
    2 WHO IS THE ALL­ TIME BEST SCORER IN BARCA HISTORY?
    3 WHO IS THE­ BULGARIAN PLAYER THAT WON BEST PLAYER OF EUROPE?
    4 WHAT­ HAPPEN TO MARADONA IN LAST FINAL BTWN BARCA AND­ ATHLETIC?
    5 HOW MANY GOALS RIVALDO HAS SCORE WITH­ BARCA?

    From getachew44, on Thu 14 May 10:16AM

  3. PLZ DON'T TRY TO BE SO CLEAVER AND WRITE THINGS YOU­ DON'T KNOW

    From getachew44, on Thu 14 May 10:05AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    look i was the most person to say that barca will not­ win anything but since they manage to win, i will be­ the firstto say congratulation because at the end it is­ football and football is for peace. even i know i lost­ everything i will say well done barca.
    to some­ pretending to be barca fan over here and say catalunya­ is not in spain i will ask you some quations
    in what­ league barca are playing?
    with which team the 2­ catalans xavi and puyol were european champions?
    which­ national side has guardiola represent in his­ time
    i'll answer it for you is was spanish

    From getachew44, on Thu 14 May 10:04AM

  5. Iniest............ i want to congratulate my fellow­ Barsa fans in Nigeria.... Cocomia Alle, Golahan ,Dapo­ ...... we are kings now .............. up Barca­ .........

    From sinecyline, on Thu 14 May 9:48AM

  6. Sinecyline, aka Iniesta......i want to use this medium ­ to congratulate all Barsa fans the coach, the players,­ the board, and all other well wishers, for this­ wonderfull Treble season. I want to commend the coach­ PEP for the high level of desipline among the players­ and the love among them. I specially want to commend­ my player of the year ANDRES TOSIN SINECYLINE INIESTA,­ he has really played too well this season and needs­ more recorgnition not leaving out Xavi, MESSI, Eto­ ,Dani, TOURE,and every other player in the team. I Pray­ that we win the champions league come May 27.

    From sinecyline, on Thu 14 May 9:44AM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Recently, I discovered a hot place -- T a l l h u b Co­ m -- where many sexy tall singles who like sports and­ chatting there. I'm an open minded girl from UK, I­ also like discuss sports and love with tall guys on it.

    From diaihenry03, on Thu 14 May 9:33AM

  8. This Barca team has shown great character all season.­ They have shown the maturity and class to fight back­ from difficult situations under extreme pressure. Barca­ have stuck to the football philosphy they know best and­ over time this has instilled confidence and­ consistency. Pep should be commended for his terrific­ attitude to his beliefs and his respect for the­ opposition.

    There are less pre madonas in this team­ i.e. Deco and Ronnie towards the end of his stay, and­ players like Eto'o and Henry have sacrificed their­ roles and assumed more leadership in the team.

    This­ team has a quiet confidence and belief that should be­ recognised and respected. La Liga is 1 step away and­ then the greatest grown of all waits for them on May­ 27. Either way the Barca vs Man Utd final is one for­ all football lovers to see.

    VISCA EL BARCA!

    From Peter, on Thu 14 May 9:07AM

  9. alansmithz, good post about Chelski, however, I happen­ to be from Barcelona, and yes, Cataluña is Spain. Not­ all of us are for independence.

    From andres4790, on Thu 14 May 8:51AM

  10. Hahahahaha! Blabble all you want, we are simply amazing­ this season, and because I think we have a lot more to­ improve, EVERYONE ELSE can only be afraid, VERY afraid!

    From Teddy T, on Thu 14 May 8:20AM

  11. alansmithz,
    I thought after the first match in­ Barcelona that we were like kids arguing about the­ referee... it may be contagious...

    If you watch both­ games there are a lot of similar faults like the ones­ you claim to be penalties that the referees didn't­ give, so you shouldn't be surprised if we learned­ that no faults were going to be given, not in the­ middle of the court or in the penalty zone...

    and I­ also remember (minute 4:40 aproximately) another­ chelsea's hand (far away from the body) inside­ their penalty zone that nobody argued...

    Visca el­ Barça i visca Catalunya (catalunya is not spain)

    From enrisj, on Thu 14 May 7:59AM

  12. sorry man u fans. this is just the beginning. Get ready­ for rome. all those analysis of urs wont do. Its the­ season for the blaugrana!! One down, two to go

    From Yo, on Thu 14 May 7:51AM

  13. more than a club

    From EmanuelZ, on Thu 14 May 7:50AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    kims,
    Barca haven't manage to score a goal against­ MU (remember last year) We put you out in the­ semi-final.

    From alansmithz, on Thu 14 May 7:36AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    la_carlamms,
    Barca still have 11 players even after­ getting a red card. The extra player? That fellow­ Swedisih referee:)
    Barca - 1 shot on target = 1­ goal
    Chelsea - 3 penalties appeal not given = 1­ goal
    You better start praying that the referee for the­ final is as just crappy as this Swedish guy ha ha:)

    From alansmithz, on Thu 14 May 7:32AM

  16. ""from 3.14 historic treple? what is historic­ about­ beating teams­ the best of which consider arjen­ robben­ their star­ player!they couldn't even beat­ chelsea­ home and­ away..yes they can score 6 or 7­ against teams­ like­ bilbao ,betis,..but when they face­ any organized­­ defence they can't even­ attack!"""

    At least Barcelona actually­ managed to beat their closest rivals in La­ Liga.......................unlike piss poor Manchester­ United who were humiliated and bashed HOME AND AWAY by­ Liverpool.

    From Kim S, on Thu 14 May 7:20AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    #32

    Barca are very good..but not good enough­ .....

    3-2 M U 27th....

    From Stevo1, on Thu 14 May 5:39AM

  18. from 3.14 historic treple? what is historic about­ beating teams­ the best of which consider arjen robben­ their star­ player!they couldn't even beat chelsea­ home and­ away..yes they can score 6 or 7 against teams­ like­ bilbao ,betis,..but when they face any organized­­ defence they can't even attack!

    ORGANIZED­ DEFENCE???? YOU MEAN RUGBY DEFENCE????? C'MON­ LET'S ENJOY FOOTBALL!!!!!

    From jolly g, on Thu 14 May 5:16AM

  19. 3.14
    I love how you limey B A S T A R D S only talk­ about defence now after spending years talking about­ the Italian antifootball... You show your fear... It­ will come true on the 27th...

    From DaGringo, on Thu 14 May 4:43AM

  20. same goes to 3.14..!

    From carlamms, on Thu 14 May 4:38AM
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