Valencia Stun Barcelona To End 11 year Wait For Copa Del Rey
Valencia Saturday ended their 11-year wait for a Copa del Rey title by registering a shock 2-1 win over champions, Barcelona with first-half goals from Rodrigo Moreno and Kevin Gameiro while Lionel Messi pulled one back for the Catalans, Bestchoicesports.com.ng understands
Valencia showed intent from the onset as they almost grabbed the lead in the sixth minute when Clement Lenglet played a horrendous back pass that was pounced on by Rodrigo who got past Cillessen in goal but a last-ditch effort from Gerrard Pique kept Barcelona at bay.
Marcelino’s men were just getting warmed up as they broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when Jose Gaya played in a neat cutback pass from the left corridor that met Kevin Gameiro with his first touch getting him past Jordi Alba as he calmly slotted the ball past Cillessen.
Valencia stunned the Barcelona fans inside the Benito Villamarín Stadium in the 44th minute when Carlos Soler beat Jordi Alba for pace to whip a cross in that found Rodrigo perfectly placed to head the ball into the ground as it bounced on the turf and hit the roof of the net.
Messi went close 10 minutes after the resumption of the second half when Malcom played a give and take pass with the Argentine as his deft first touch took him past three players but his outfoot shot clipped the crossbar on its way out.
Barcelona pulled one back in the 73rd minute when Ivan Rakitic delivered a corner that was headed on goal by Lenglet but Jaume Doménech was on hand to palm it as far as Messi who tapped the ball into the back of the net with the simplest of finishes.
Barcelona were denied the chance to lift their second successive domestic double as they end their season in misery after an exit in the UEFA Champions League and laboring in the latter stages of the league.