Barcelona thrash Sevilla 5-0 to claim Copa del Rey title

Spain's king Felipe VI looks at Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta kissing the trophy after the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) final football match Sevilla FC against FC Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on April 21, 2018. - Barcelona won 5-0. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)
Spain's king Felipe VI looks at Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta kissing the trophy after the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) final football match Sevilla FC against FC Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on April 21, 2018. - Barcelona won 5-0. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)

Barcelona outclassed Sevilla 5-0 to win a historic 30th Copa del Rey title

Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta (2L) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) final football match Sevilla FC against FC Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on April 21, 2018. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)
Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta (2L) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) final football match Sevilla FC against FC Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on April 21, 2018. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)

Barcelona registered a historic 5-0 win over Sevilla to claim the Copa del Rey for the 30th time. This is the largest scoreline that has occurred in a Copa del Rey final in recent years. This trophy will go a long way in placating supporters of the club.

The first 10 minutes were dominated by Barça, but the attackers couldn’t break through the Sevilla defence. In the 9th minute, Lionel Messi’s free kick was saved by David Soria, at full stretch.

The breakthrough finally came in the 14th minute. Philippe Coutinho was released on the right and sprinted across before passing it to Luis Suárez, who provided a tap-in finish to give Barça the lead.

The second goal came in the 31st minute. Andrés Iniesta and Jordi Alba exchanged a delightful one-two before the left-back pulled it back for Lionel Messi through a back-heel. Then, the Argentine shot into the roof of the net.

The last goal of the first half came in the 40th minute. Luis Suárez and Lionel exchanged a one-two, with the latter pass by Messi splitting the Sevilla defence open, before Suárez provided a simple finish at the near post.

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Messi was also extensively involved in the fourth goal in the 52nd minute. The Argentine maestro spotted the run of Andrés Iniesta, who took the ball around the goalkeeper before shooting into an empty net to extend Barça’s lead.

Just a couple of minutes later, Samuel Umtiti missed a glorious opportunity to further Barcelona’s dominion over Sevilla. After Messi curled the ball into the box from a free-kick, Luis Suárez’s diving header was saved by David Soria but the goalkeeper couldn’t hold onto the ball.

Samuel Umtiti had the opportunity of swiping the rebound into the net but it was miraculously saved by Soria, and sent out for a corner-kick. But the final flourish was provided by Philippe Coutinho, who scored a penalty in the 69th minute.

This was easily Barcelona’s best performance this season, a total masterclass by Leo Messi, Luis Suárez, Andrés Iniesta and Jordi Alba. It was also a nice way to bid farewell to a great like Iniesta, who will leave the club at the end of the season.

Next: Andrés Iniesta to join Chongqing Dangdai Lifan

Although Sevilla managed 5 shots on target, Barça’s dominion was such that Vincenzo Montella’s side were never really in the game. While Ernesto Valverde lifts his first cup with Barcelona, Andrés Iniesta lifts his last.