Copa del Rey Report: Barcelona 2-0 Sevilla 22 May 2016
Copa del Rey Final Result: Barcelona 2-0 Sevilla Date: 22 May 2016 Venue: Estadio Vicente Calderón Barcelona claimed their 28th Copa del Rey title on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Sevilla after extra-time in the final. The Catalans had the first real opportunity of the game in the ninth minute. Andres Iniesta instigated the move as he fed Luis Suarez on the edge of the area. The striker unleashed a shot but found the side-netting. Sevilla had a chance of their own in the 18th minute when Vitolo made progress down the right before cutting it back for Coke, but his first-time shot was sliced wide. Disaster struck for Barca in the 36th minute as they were reduced to 10 men. Gameiro used his pace to run at the Blaugrana defence and Javier Mascherano had no choice but to bring him down just outside the box. Unfortunately for the Argentine, he was the last defender and earned a straight red card. From the resulting free kick Sevilla almost took the lead as Banega curled the ball towards the top corner of the goal, but Ter Stegen did brilliantly to tip it over. The domestic league champions came close to hitting the front on the stroke of half-time as Rakitic's corner picked out Gerard Pique, but his header went narrowly over the bar. Five minutes into the second stanza the Europa League champions came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock. Banega found room to shoot from 25 yards but hit the near post as Barca survived. Sevilla put Barca under tremendous pressure for large periods of the second half with Gameiro and Banega threatening, but Pique was in great form and was up to the task at centre-back, keeping everything out. In stoppage time Sevilla were also reduced to 10 men as Banega brought down Neymar. He was the last defender and was shown a straight red card. The game went into extra-time and it was Barcelona who finally scored the winner in the 97th minute. Messi produced a sublime ball over the top for Jordi Alba who finished with great composure. In the last few minutes of extra-time Barca added a second as Messi set up Neymar who slotted the finish with supreme confidence for a 2-0 win.
