Sports

Valencia knocks Barcelona off Copa del Rey throne

May 26, 2019
Valencia players celebrate with their trophy after winning the 2019 Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) final football match between Barcelona and Valencia at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Sevilla on Saturday. — AFP
Valencia players celebrate with their trophy after winning the 2019 Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) final football match between Barcelona and Valencia at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Sevilla on Saturday. — AFP

SEVILLE, Spain — Valencia beat Barcelona 2-1 to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday, ending the Spanish champions' four-year winning streak in the competition and denying them a domestic double.

Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno struck first-half goals to give Marcelino's dominant Valencia control of the final in Seville's sweltering Benito Villamarin stadium.

Record 30-times Cup winners Barcelona struggled without injured forward Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele but Lionel Messi pulled the Catalans back into the game with a close-range finish.

Goncalo Guedes missed a gilt-edged chance in stoppage-time for Valencia but they held on to win their first major trophy since last lifting the Cup in 2008.

"I'm so happy because for me, my family, it's incredible," said Valencia captain Dani Parejo. "A club like Valencia deserves a lot more joy like this. I don't have the words, it's incredible.

"We've made history in a really significant year, our centenary year."

Valencia finished fourth in La Liga after a strong second half of the season, reaching the Europa League semi-finals and ending an impressive campaign with this victory.

By contrast, Barcelona's campaign collapsed in the last fortnight as they threw away a three-goal Champions League semi-final lead to be eliminated by Liverpool before letting the Cup slip out of their hands.

Barcelona were bidding to lift themselves from their humiliation on Merseyside by securing the ninth domestic double in their history, but despite Messi's efforts they were over-run by a determined and well-drilled Valencia side.

Gerard Pique was forced to clear Rodrigo's effort off the line before Gameiro blasted Marcelino's side ahead in the 22nd minute after good work from Jose Luis Gaya.

The Catalans failed to create openings and Rodrigo nodded home the second after Carlos Soler whipped a ball across the face of goal.

Messi struck the post with a delightful outside-of-the-boot effort before slotting home the rebound when Jaume Domenech saved Clement Lenglet's header for his 51st goal of the season, but it was not enough. — Reuters


May 26, 2019
165 views
HIGHLIGHTS
Sports
9 hours ago

Riyadh Season announces first overseas event with boxing gala in Los Angeles

Sports
day ago

Al Hilal's comeback effort falls short in AFC Champions League semi-finals

Sports
4 days ago

Aspiring fencer Josh Brayden aims for Olympic glory