Copa del Rey News
Since winning its last Copa del Rey in 2014, the 14-time European Cup winners had won four Champions Leagues while falling short in the Spanish cup. That changed on Saturday.
Barcelona took the victory with an own-goal by Real Madrid defender Éder Militão in the first half. The rivals will also meet in the Spanish league on March 19 in Barcelona.
Real Madrid were clearly hampered by the absence Karim Benzema, who is still recovering from a leg muscle injury, and a below par performance from Vinicius Jr.
Young Barcelona academy striker Ferran Jutgla scored the winner with a cross-shot from the corner of the box after a counter-attack.
Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-0 in Saturday`s Copa del Rey final to win the trophy for a record-extending 31st time.
Real Sociedad beat local rivals Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in the rescheduled 2020 Copa del Rey final on Saturday to get their hands on a major trophy for the first time since 1987.
Dembele got Barca off to an ideal start with a scorching strike into the top corner from outside the box and they would have scored a second with a deflected effort had Sevilla`s Marcos Acuna not cleared the ball off the line.
Barca had won 2-0 at Sevilla on Saturday to go second in La Liga, leading their coach Ronald Koeman to declare his side had every chance of turning the tie around.
The club will elect a new leader on Sunday and the three candidates, Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Freixa, were all present in the Presidential box to witness the comeback.
Sevilla joined Barca in Friday's quarter-final draw by crushing 2019 Copa winners Valencia 3-0 at home, and Almeria sneaked into the last eight with a 5-4 penalty shootout win at home to Osasuna after a 0-0 draw following extra-time.
Barca coach Ronald Koeman talked before the game of his desire to win the Copa, with his team looking unlikely to catch runaway La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, and he backed up his words by fielding a strong side.
Messi should have added a third goal in added time after waltzing his way through the Rayo defence, but when it came to shoot he lost his footing and could only find the side netting.
The defeat will only add pressure on Real Madird manager Zinedine Zidane, who defended his players and admitted he is not sure that if he still has their support. “When you lose, you always talk. I take responsibility and whatever has to happen, will happen. I am very calm, the players wanted to win the game. They try and sometimes different things happen. You have to assume responsibility," the Frenchman said during the press conference.
FC Barcelona central defender Samuel Umtiti is all set to be ruled out of action after deciding to undergo treatement in order to resolve his left knee problem.
Real Sociedad, who upset host Real Madrid in a 4-3 thriller to reach this season's Copa del Rey final four, won the first leg of this semifinal clash 2-1.
Athletic have won the tournament 23 times, more than any side except Barcelona, and are favourites to reach their 38th final.
Record 30 times Copa Del Rey winners Barcelona knocked out by Atletico Bilbao after a stoppage-time header from Inaki Williams.
Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Sociedad booked their places in the semifinals of Spain's Copa del Rey after they knocked favourites FC Barcelona and Real Madrid out of the competition
A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona eased past Leganes 5-0 on Thursday to reach the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. Leganes, second-bottom of La Liga, made a number of changes from the side that secured a 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid at the weekend and a full-strength Barca took advantage.
Marcelino was relieved of his duties as Valencia boss on Wednesday after two seasons at the helm, with the club sitting tenth in the league standings after three games.
The 54-year-old, who won the Copa del Rey and secured Champions League football last season, leaves after two campaigns at the helm.
The 20-year-old will join the Barcelona B team for the moment, the La Liga champions said in a statement.
Bartomeu feels that this season was neither a season of excellence nor it was a season of failure.
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.
Loading...