Messi hits brace as Barcelona win first trophy in two years

Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 4-0 to win the Spanish Copa del Rey title at the Estadio de la Cortuja in Seville on Saturday.

Bilbao lost the league cup final courtesy of a flurry of second-half goals from Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong, and a masterclass from Lionel Messi who scored twice.

The Spanish Cup win earned Barcelona their first trophy since the 2018/19 season.

It is also the first trophy of Ronald Koeman’s reign as Barca manager.

The Catalans dominated the first half with 80 percent possession and went close early on through De Jong who hit the bar, while Griezmann was also denied by Uniai Simeon, Athletic goalkeeper, in a goalless first half.

Simeon continued to frustrate Barcelona but they opened the floodgates on the hour mark when Griezmann converted De Jong’s cross.

De Jong, Dutch midfielder, doubled Barca’s lead three minutes later with a header from Jordi Alba’s cross before Messi delivered a trademark goal into the bottom corner on 68 minutes.

The 33-year-old Argentine maestro earned his brace against their docile opponents five minutes later, converting another Alba cross for his 31st goal in a cup final.

The latest Copa del Rey triumph is a record-extending 31st for Barcelona.