Messi-inspired Barcelona one match away from historic double treble

The Catalans win Copa del Rey for 27th time with 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao

BARCELONA: A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona sealed a league and Cup double as they swept aside Athletic Bilbao 3-1 to win the Copa del Rey for a 27th time on Saturday.

Messi opened the scoring in spectacular fashion by dribbling past four Athletic players and lashing home a low finish before Neymar added a second before half-time.

The Argentine grabbed his second of the game to kill the tie as a contest 17 minutes from time before Inaki Williams grabbed a consolation for the Basques.



“Leo [Messi] is spectacular, he is a star,” said Neymar. “For me he is the best in the world and it is an honour to be a part of this team with players of such quality.”

Despite Athletic fans dominating two-thirds of the 99,000 capacity Camp Nou, there was nothing their players could do to stop a rampant Barca that is now just one game away from just the second treble in the club’s history.

We are almost there, says Enrique

Coach Luis Enrique allowed himself a brief moment to savour his triumph over Athletic Bilbao before quickly turning his attention to the Champions League final against Juventus, the last leg of their treble tilt.

“We are almost there and it would only be the second time that a club like this, with so much history at a high level, has been able to do it,” said Enrique. “It will be difficult but that is what we are working for now. We were better than Athletic in our play and now we have to beat Juventus.”

While hailing Messi as outstanding, Enrique did have words of criticism for Neymar, who prompted some pushing and shoving from both sets of players after he showboated by flicking the ball over an opponent.

“We are fortunate as we see Messi all the time in training,” said Enrique. “In training he actually does things which are more difficult. As for Neymar, if I was an Athletic player I would have reacted the same or if not worse for what he did, but in Brazil that is normal.”

Athletic coach deflated after ‘inevitable’ Barca win

Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde had nothing but praise for victors Barcelona but said the fact that his own side reached the final was nothing short of a miracle.

“Barca are an extraordinary team with extraordinary players and on top of that they are in great form,” said Valverde. “They have the hunger to win everything and I think they are favourites to beat Juventus as they were favourites against us. You always look for a way to win and say it can happen but Barca always win in the end.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st,  2015.

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