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Barcelona logo
Copa del Rey | Final
May 25, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Valencia logo

1-2

Messi (73')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Gameiro (21'), Moreno (33')

Live Commentary: Barcelona 1-2 Valencia - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live commentary of the 2019 Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Valencia from Seville, which saw Los Che triumph 2-1.
2

Barcelona missed the chance to land a fifth straight Copa del Rey title as the Spanish champions suffered a 2-1 defeat to Valencia in Saturday night's showpiece final in Seville.

Having successfully defended La Liga, Barca were chasing another domestic double but Ernesto Valverde's side were outclassed and outworked by Los Che on the night.

Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.


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Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the 2019 Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Valencia from Seville. Barca are 30-time winners of the Copa del Rey and have landed the trophy in each of the last four seasons. Valencia, meanwhile, have won the competition on seven occasions but their last success was back in 2008. Stay tuned!

TEAMS!

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Cillessen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur; Roberto, Messi, Coutinho

VALENCIA (4-4-2): Jaume; Wass, Garay, Paulista, Gaya; Soler, Parejo, Coquelin, Guedes; Rodrigo, Gameiro


Barcelona are without Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele through injury but Nelson Semedo, Philippe Coutinho and Arthur have all recovered to start tonight. There is once again a spot for Sergi Roberto in an attacking position, with the Spaniard expected to support Lionel Messi and Coutinho. Jasper Cillessen also starts on what could be his final appearance for the club.

As for Valencia, Kevin Gameiro returns to the attack having been named on the bench against Real Valladolid in La Liga last weekend. Carlos Soler's goal last time out sees the midfielder keep his spot, while it will once again be Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo in the middle of the park. There is a change in central defence, though, with Ezequiel Garay in for Mouctar Diakhaby.

Ernesto Valverde's side will complete a domestic double if they triumph tonight, having proved to be the best team that La Liga have to offer once again. Kickoff in Seville is next!

KICKOFF:  Barcelona kick things off at the Estadio Ramon...

... it must be said that there is a brilliant atmosphere inside the stadium. As expected, Barcelona have taken control of the early possession as they look to settle into a passing rhythm here.

Nothing much to report in the final thus far aside from Barcelona keeping possession. Valencia are not exactly sitting deep, though, with Rodrigo and Gameiro pushing high up the field. You do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital in this match.

OFF THE LINE!  Oh my word! Massive chance for Valencia to take the lead as Rodrigo drives into the Barcelona box before rounding Cillessen and looking to pick out the bottom corner. Pique is having none of it, though, and manages to block on the line. Incredible defending from the Spaniard there.

Barcelona respond to that Rodrigo chance by enjoying more possession in a forward position, but Coutinho cannot feed a pass into Messi and Valencia clear their lines once again.

Pass, pass, pass from Barca in the final third. Valencia are not leaving any gaps, though, and Jaume has not yet had to a save to make between the sticks. Still goalless with nine played.

We have not seen too much from Messi thus far, which is credit to Valencia. Semedo has been bright down the right although Gaya is defending well. There a lot of very interesting battles taking place all over the pitch. This game is absolutely flying past it must be said.

Valencia's midfield two have not done too much work in Barcelona's half of the field but they are both supporting their defence well, which is making it very tough for the Spanish champions.

Alba has loads of space down the left and Messi looks to find his teammate but the pass has too much weight and Valencia regain the ball. The atmosphere is still absolutely brilliant here.

Roberto swings his boot at a loose ball outside the Valencia box but there are too many bodies in the way. Already a couple of signs of frustration from Ernesto Valverde's side here.

CHANCE!  Messi dances into the Valencia box before looking to pick out the bottom corner but his effort is deflected just wide of the post. First real sign of some magic from the Argentine there.

Valencia continue to have chances to break on Barcelona but some of the choice of passes have been disappointing to say the least. There are a lot of gaps in this Barcelona side.

GOAL!  BARCELONA 0-1 VALENCIA (GAMEIRO)

Breakthrough! Valencia take the lead in the 21st minute as Gameiro collects a clever pass from Gaya before moving away from Alba and firing into the back of the net. Not sure about the defending from Barcelona but it was some strike from Sevilla's French forward!

Plenty of possession for Barcelona since the Gameiro goal but they are really struggling to create openings. Some magic from Messi seems to be their best chance of hitting back here.

Barcelona will not be panicking as there is still a lot of football to be played in this match but Valencia must be confident as they continue to sit deep before threatening on the break.

Valencia are almost defending with a back six when Barcelona have the ball but the moment they have the chance to break the likes of Wass and Gaya flood forward from the full-back areas.

Pique takes matters into his own hands by driving deep into the Valencia half before feeding Semedo but the full-back has to come back inside and Valencia have so many players back again.

We have a water break here as both sets of players take on some fluid.

We are back underway and both managers had the chance to address their players.

GOAL!  BARCELONA 0-2 VALENCIA (RODRIGO)

Oh my word! Valencia double their lead as Soler shows incredible pace to drive away from Alba and deliver a cross onto the head of Rodrigo, who guides the ball home. Terrible defending from Barcelona once again but Los Che now have a two-goal advantage in the Copa del Rey final.

SHOT!  Half-chance for Barcelona as Rakitic finds some space outside the Valencia box but the midfielder's effort misses the Valencia goal. Frustration for the Spanish champions here.

CLOSE!  Another sight of the Valencia goal for Barcelona but Rakitic misses the post with another effort. Nothing much from Messi as we approach the latter stages of the first period in Seville.

It has almost been the perfect game from Valencia - they are not having a lot of the ball but are waiting to take it away from Barcelona before throwing five, six players forward on the break.

Valencia force another corner following poor defending from Barcelona but there are no takers on Parejo's delivery. Los Che have a throw in deep inside the Barcelona half of the field.

Will Valverde make a change at the break? To be brutally honest Roberto has offered absolutely nothing in a forward position. Oh how Valverde would have Luis Suarez or Dembele on the bench.

SAVE!  Decent stop from Jaume to keep out a strike from Messi, who had found a little bit of space before unleashing a strike. Messi is clearly becoming frustrated in this match.

SAVE!  Now Jaume has to make a really good save to keep out a strike from Messi as Barcelona threaten to halve the deficit late in the first period. That is much more like it from the holders here.

SAVE!  Jaume is down to keep out an attempt from Rakitic this time as Barcelona really turn the screw in the final moments of the first half. The break will come at a good time for Valencia.

HALF TIME:  BARCELONA 0-2 VALENCIA

Well then, that was some half from Valencia. Los Che enter the half-time break with a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Gameiro and Rodrigo. Barcelona have had lots of the ball but have largely struggled to make their mark. What a huge second 45 minutes of action coming up in Seville!

STATISTICS! Valencia only had 23% of the first-half possession, while they had just three attempts but all three were on target. Barcelona, meanwhile, hit the target with three of their eight attempts. No yellow cards to report - it has not really been that type of final to be honest.

BENCH WATCH! Valverde will be looking at his bench wondering who can actually make a difference in the second period. He has the likes of Alena and Vidal in reserve but neither are goalscorers while Malcom has really, really struggled this season. Then there is Carles Perez, who only made his first-team debut last weekend against Eibar. As for Valencia, head coach Marcelino has plenty of quality and indeed experience in the shape of Kondogbia, Mina, Piccini and Torres.

KICKOFF:  Barcelona resume the action...

... BARCELONA SUBS! The Spanish champions have made two changes at the interval with Vidal and Malcom on for Arthur and Semedo. Will that help to change things?

CLOSE!  Almost a third for Valencia as Guedes strikes one towards the bottom corner but his effort just dips wide of the post. A third for Los Che might well end this match as a contest.

Barcelona have a free kick in a dangerous area as Messi is felled by Garay...

SHOT!  Messi's free kick is deflected over the crossbar for a corner, which is cleared.

Gaya is caught in the face by Malcom and spends some time on the ground before returning to his feet, with some help from Pique, who is desperate to get things moving in the second period.

YELLOW CARD!  Gaya (Valencia) is booked for bringing Malcom to the ground.

Messi delivers another dangerous free kick into the Valencia box but Garay is on hand to make the clearance for the 100th time tonight. All Barcelona in terms of pressure at the moment.

OFF THE POST!  Oh wow - Messi smashes the ball against the post from inside the Valencia box and Vidal can only fire the rebound over the crossbar. It is an incredible let-off for Los Che and the type of thing that makes you think that this will be Valencia's night. Still 2-0 to Marcelino's side.

Little over 30 minutes of the 2019 Copa del Rey final remaining - of normal time anyway - and Valencia still lead 2-0. The next goal is absolutely huge. Can Barca halve the deficit?

Valencia knew that they would have to suffer if they were to win tonight and that is the case at the moment as Barcelona continue to pass and probe in the final third. Gameiro has dropped back into midfield for the moment with Rodrigo keeping Pique and Lenglet occupied.

YELLOW CARD!  Busquets (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Rodrigo. Free kick Valencia...

SHOT!  ... Parejo slips and fires high over the Barcelona crossbar. Nothing to see there.

Valencia are going to make a change here as Kondogbia receives some instructions - could be for Parejo as the captain has just fallen to the ground holding his right leg.

VALENCIA SUB! The change is made as Kondogbia replaces Parejo.

SAVE!  Coutinho finds some space in a decent area before striking towards goal but Jaume is on hand to make the save. Still 2-0 Valencia as we head for the 70th minute of the Copa del Rey final.

SAVE!  Coutinho finds some space in a decent area before striking towards goal but Jaume is on hand to make the save. Still 2-0 Valencia as we head for the 70th minute of the Copa del Rey final.

Valencia again break into a dangerous position and Soler delivers low into Gameiro. Pique, though, is on hand to make the clearance. Pique has been Barcelona's best player tonight.

Pique is left on the ground by the chasing Rodrigo, who was late on the centre-back.

YELLOW CARD!  Kondogbia (Sevilla) is booked for a late tackle on Lenglet.

Kondogbia has just made a stunning defensive header to clear his own penalty box from a Messi free kick. It is little things like that that will win the Copa del Rey final for Los Che.

CLOSE!  Pique turns a low Malcom cross just wide of the post. Incredible drive from the centre-back once again and Valencia escape another dangerous moment as the clock continues to tick on.

VALENCIA SUB! Gameiro is replaced by Piccini for Valencia.

GOAL!  BARCELONA 1-2 VALENCIA (MESSI)

There is the goal! Jaume makes a quite stunning save to keep out a header from Lenglet but Messi is on hand to convert from close range. It is just what Valencia did not want at this stage of the match. Now we have a very interesting next 15 minutes of normal time in Seville.

Messi might have scored but Pique has been the inspiration for Barcelona tonight. Just about time for another water break here, which comes at a very good time for Valencia.

The Valencia fans are doing their best to raise their team as play resumes in Seville. At 2-0 Valencia were comfortable but that Messi goal has completely changed things here.

BARCELONA SUB! Alena has replaced Rakitic for the holders.

Messi has just taken a whack in a challenge with Gabriel - both players are down.

False alarm - both Messi and Gabriel are back up and play continues in Seville.

Valencia cannot get out of their own half at the moment as Barcelona continue to pass and probe in forward positions. Can Los Che hold on for the best part of 10 minutes here?

Little over five minutes of normal time remaining and Barcelona continue to dominate the ball. That said, Jaume is not exactly having to make save after save. You do get the feeling that something big is going to happen in the final stages of the 2019 Copa del Rey final.

CLOSE!  Messi rises high to meet a cross from Malcom but his header was always too high. If Barcelona are to score a second here then you do feel that it will come from Messi.

Garay manages to nod behind a cross from Messi and Valencia then clear the resulting corner as the clock continues to tick on. It will be very, very interesting to see how much injury time is added because there have been a few more stoppages in the second half of this contest.

VALENCIA SUB! Diakhaby replaces Rodrigo for Valencia.

YELLOW CARD!  Vidal (Barcelona) is booked for dissent.

Messi delivers a free kick into the Valencia box but Diakhaby is on hand to make the clearance. Not sure that high balls are Barcelona's best chance of scoring a second late on here.

Alena has just passed the ball straight out of play while aiming for Messi.

We are into the second of five minutes of added time here!

Valencia have just had a little spell with the ball that took away more seconds. Barcelona currently have possession inside the Los Che half but not much is happening. Little over two minutes for the Spanish champions to find a second to force extra-time in Seville.

Into the fourth minute and Valencia continue to clear crosses into the box. A block from Garay then leads to a break for Wass but the Denmark international cannot find a teammate.

CHANCE!  Goodness! Incredible chance for Valencia to score a third as Guedes breaks away from everyone into a one-on-one with Cillessen but he fires wide of the post. Incredible miss!

CLOSE!  Guedes again breaks clear before shooting with Cillessen up for the corner but he misses the target! Incredible turn of events in the final moments of the Copa del Rey final.

FULL TIME:  BARCELONA 1-2 VALENCIA

So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Valencia beating Barcelona 2-1 to land the Copa del Rey title. What a game of football! Messi had a goal back for Barcelona late on but Los Che held out to make it a very good end to their season.

Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Valencia will now go on to lift the trophy before partying long into the night. See you very soon!

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