Messi netted double as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao to win Copa del Rey

FC Barcelona has won Copa del Rey 2021. Barcelona scored four goals in 12 minutes including a glorious strike from Lionel Messi to trounce Athletic Bilbao and win the Copa del Rey.

 

Barcelona was bewildered until the 60th minute when Antoine Griezmann turned in Frenkie de Jong’s cross before De Jong headed in himself three minutes succeeding. Messi then drove from his claim half, traded twice with De Jong, and found the bottom corner for Barca’s third.

 

Messi added his moment four minutes later, sweeping in Jordi Alba’s cross.

Griezmann thought he had grabbed Barca’s fifth goal in added time but his effort was ruled offside after a VAR review.

“It’s very special to lift this Cup as captain of this club, it’s a very happy day for this group,” said Messi.

“We knew Athletic would play as they did and we had to be patient with the ball and try to create space. We were all over them in the first half and in the second they dropped off.”

The victory gives Barca their first trophy beneath supervisor Ronald Koeman and their first silverware since 2019.

“To win a title is important for me,” said Koeman, whose side is third in La Liga – two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

“Despite the changes at the club and the young players, at Barca, you have to always fight for trophies.

“We have the first one and now we are going to fight to the last game in La Liga.”

Athletic had beaten Barca 2-1 after additional time in January’s Spanish Super Cup last but resembled small aspiration hither and had only one endeavor in the first half when defender Inigo Martinez pushed just hanging off the close post taking after a free-kick.

Athletic keeper Simon pulled off three amazing spares in quick progression early within the opening period, using his cleared-out leg to foil Griezmann, and after that Sergio Busquets from point-blank stretch while also keeping out a guided shot from Pedri. Griezmann, at last, got the way better of Simon to break the halt and once Barca was ahead they bequeathed no kindness.