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Athletic Bilbao logo
Copa del Rey | Final
May 30, 2015 at 8.30pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

1-3

Williams (79')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Messi (20', 74'), Neymar (36')

Player Ratings: Athletic Bilbao 1-3 Barcelona

Sports Mole takes a closer look at how each player performed during Barcelona's 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final.

Barcelona won the 2015 Copa del Rey final with a 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou on Saturday.

Lionel Messi (2) and Neymar were both on the scoresheet for Barca, who led 3-0 entering the final 15 minutes.

Bilbao registered late on through Inaki Williams, but were powerless to stop the Catalan outfit winning this competition for a 27th time.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at how each player performed at the Camp Nou.


Athletic Bilbao's Spanish forward Inaki Williams celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Europe League round of 32 football match Torino Vs Athletic Bilbao on February 19, 2015© Getty Images

BILBAO

Goal

Iago Herrerin: Conceded three times, but made a couple of outstanding saves, including one from Gerard Pique in the first period. Helped keep the score down in the first period. (7/10)

Defence

Unai Bustinza: Extremely inexperienced at this level and it showed. Decent in possession, but was caught out defensively for Barcelona's third goal. Had a difficult evening at the Camp Nou. (5/10)

Aymeric Laporte: Was powerless to stop Messi running the show in Barcelona, but the impressive 21-year-old showed plenty of reasons why he is so highly-rated in European football. (6/10)

Xabier Etxeita: Just could not live with the movement from Barcelona, especially in the first period. Improved in the second half, but did not look comfortable under pressure. (5/10)

Mikel Balenziaga: Did his best to break forward and managed to do so in the first period. However, the full-back dropped deeper in the second half as Barcelona kept possession. (6/10)

Midfield

Andoni Iraola: Given a brilliant send-off by the Bilbao supporters on his final appearance for the club. Typically-busy performance down the right and delivered a couple of excellent crosses. (6/10)

Benat: Has so much natural ability, but just never really got into the game. A couple of efforts from distance, but that was about it from the Spanish midfielder. (5/10)

Mikel San Jose: Was a shade fortunate not to pick up a booking for some tasty challenges throughout the match. Provided a presence in midfield, but did not see much of the ball. (6/10)

Mikel Rico: Was surprisingly deployed in a wide position and caused plenty of problems early on. The midfielder faded badly, however, and was replaced in the 74th minute. (6/10)

Attack

Inaki Williams: Quite comfortably his team's best player on the night. Hit the crossbar in the first period before finding the back of the net late on. A constant threat to the Barca defence. (8/10)

Aritz Aduriz: Has had such a wonderful season for Bilbao, but struggled to make his mark here. Won his share of aerial battles, but did not have many opportunities of real note. (6/10)

Substitutes

Markel Susaeta: Replaced Iraola just before the hour and showed good energy in the final third. Delivered some dangerous crosses on what was a decent cameo performance. (6/10)

Ander iturraspe: Replaced Rico in the 74th minute - moments after Messi had scored Barcelona's third. Did as well as he could during a stage where the game was over. (6/10)

Ibai Gomez: Only given the final 15 minutes, but made a real impact. Set up Williams for the striker's goal with a brilliant cross and twice came close to scoring himself. (7/10)


Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates his goal past Barcelona's Brazilian defender Dani Alves during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) final football match Athletic Club Bilbao vs FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on © Getty Images

BARCELONA

Goal

Marc-Andre ter Stegen: Did not have an awful lot to do, but was confident from crosses. Had a nervy moment in the first half though when he almost allowed Williams in on goal. (6/10)

Defence

Dani Alves: Now looks certain to leave Barcelona this summer, which seems quite extraordinary. Still one of the best right-backs in the world and set up both of Messi's goals on the night. (8/10)

Gerard Pique: Has had a fine second half to the season and dealt well with the physical threat of Aduriz. Found Williams tough to handle, but had another strong night overall. (7/10)

Javier Mascherano: Still seen by many as a midfielder, but the Argentine is also an excellent centre-back. Reads the game so well and that was once again the case here. (7/10)

Jordi Alba: Provides such an outlet in the final third for Barcelona. Was alert defensively, but spent most of the game causing problems in an attacking area. (7/10)

Midfield

Ivan Rakitic: Lost a bit of form earlier in the season, but has been excellent over the last three or four months. Another strong and composed performance from the Croatian midfielder. (7/10)

Sergio Busquets: Got himself involved in some nonsense late on during a spiky period of the game, but his midfield work was once again excellent. Plays such a crucial role in this team. (7/10)

Andres Iniesta: As expected, extremely tidy in possession as he kept things ticking over in the middle of the park. Departed 10 minutes into the second period for Xavi. (6/10)

Attack

Neymar: Angered Bilbao with some show-boating late on, but the Brazilian's overall performance was once again very impressive. Scored Barcelona's second of the night in the first period. (8/10)

Luis Suarez: Could not join Messi and Neymar on the scoresheet, but put Neymar's goal on a plate and was once again involved in everything in the final third. Such a threat. (8/10)

Lionel Messi: Scored twice - including one of the all-time great goals in Copa del Rey history. Caused absolute havoc in the final third and was once again on his own planet. (9/10)

Substitutes

Xavi: On his final Barcelona appearance at the Camp Nou, the Spaniard ran the game in the final 35 minutes. Showed his full range of skills and rattled the post with a free kick late on. (7/10)

Jeremy Mathieu: Replaced Alba in the 77th minute and slotted effortlessly into the left-back position. Can be pleased with his first season in a Barcelona shirt. (6/10)

Pedro: Remains second-choice to Messi, Neymar and Suarez, and the Spaniard had little time to make a serious impact after entering 10 minutes before the end. (6/10)


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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates his goal past Barcelona's Brazilian defender Dani Alves during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) final football match Athletic Club Bilbao vs FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on
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