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Follow all the action live as Barcelona look to seal a second successive domestic double against Valencia in the Copa del Rey final at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Seville.
After Rodrigo spurned a precious early opportunity it looked as though Barca were set to take control of the match, however, Kevin Gameiro’s brilliant first touch and fine finish put Marcelino’s side ahead after 21 minutes. Rodrigo then made amends for his early mistake, heading home from close range after a fine piece of build-up play between Daniel Parejo and Carlos Soler, to fan the very real prospect of an upset.
But it was, of course, Lionel Messi who sparked the comeback for Barca after a frustrating period of attempting to crack Valencia’s defence in the second half. The Argentinian reacted first after Clement Lenglet’s header rebounded off the post to poke in from close range and give his side hope with just over 15 minutes remaining.
It wasn’t a beautiful goal, more of a poacher’s finish, Messi snatching first at the rebound after Lenglet’s header hit the post, but it’s enough. That is his 51st goal of the season and the comeback is on!
GOAL! Barcelona 1-2 Valencia (Messi, 72)
68 mins: Barcelona 0-2 Valencia
They may have lost their captain, but Valencia come so close to a third. It’s Soler who races dow the right again and lifts his head to a three-on-three. Gameiro sniffs the opportunity but Pique beats him to it to clear.
62 mins: Barcelona 0-2 Valencia
Daniel Parejo is down and clutching his calf after appearing to strain a muscle while skying his attempt on goal over the bar. He cannot continue and Geoffrey Kondogbia comes on to replace him. Two defensive midfielders in the centre now for Valencia. They are already starting to sink back.
55 mins: Barcelona 0-2 Valencia
Messi so nearly hauls his side back into the game! He leaves three Valencia defenders in a hopeless tangle only to see his delicate shot bounce back off the post. The ball runs to Vidal but the Chilean panics and slices his shot high over the bar.
51 mins: Barcelona 0-2 Valencia
An, as expected, threating start from the Catalans, who desperately need to turn the tide of this game. Messi wins a foul on the edge of the box but it comes to nothing. Moments later, Gaya receives the game’s first yellow card after cynically pulling back Malcom. It’s going to be a nervy second half for Marcelino’s men.
We’re back underway! Can Barcelona turn this around?
HT: Barcelona 0-2 Valencia
44 mins:Barcelona 0-2 Valencia
Messi finally works space to shoot but his effort is poor and easily saved by Domenech. Moments later and Rakitic drives a shot from the edge of the box but Garay’s block alleviates the danger. Fine work from Valencia against a flustered side.
41 mins: Barcelona 0-2 Valencia
Barcelona are reeling. They just can’t quite piece together their play. Too many passes on the edge of the box lead leave them lost in their own jigsaw and Sergi Roberto loses the ball and concedes the foul. They’re getting increasingly frustrated.
A huge goal in the game and it’s the captain, Parejo, who wriggles past one challenge and sets Soler free down the right. He beats Alba for pace, hooks a cross towards the box and the diminutive striker is there to head home!
Marcelino is pleading with his players to keep a cool head. Valverde, meanwhile, looks forlorn.
GOAL! Barcelona 0-2 Valencia (Rodrigo, 32)
28 mins: Lionel Messi is cutting a frustrated figure and has struggled to get into the game thus far. The goal has understandably rocked the momentum his side had built and suddenly Valencia are winning the loose balls, with Coquelin sweeping in Terminator-esque fashion, and then looking to forge a breakaway.
Against the run of play, Gameiro gives Valencia the unlikeliest of leads. He was found by Gaya on the edge of the box, flung off Alba’s presence with a brilliant first touch and thrashes a powerful finish past Cillessen into the roof of the net. A huge goal at a time when their foothold in the match appeared to be slipping.
GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Valencia (Gameiro, 21)
16 mins: Barcelona 0-0 Valencia
Barca are beginning to find more and more space in Valencia’s third, weaving passes in and amongst Gabriel and Garay. Coutinho almost breaks free in the box after a series of quick one-twos but Wass intervenes. The pattern of the match is starting to look a little lopsided.
11 mins: Barcelona 0-0 Valencia
That early chances has given Valencia confidence after a nervy start but they are still leaving Barcelona a lot of space to move within and it’s Semedo again who breaks down the right. This time he loses the ball clumsily by the corner flag and gives away a foul. The pressure is building.
6 mins: Barcelona 0-0 Valencia
Cleared off the line!
A terrible mistake from Lenglet gifts the ball to Rodrigo on the edge of the Barcelona box with only the goalkeeper to beat. The Spaniard ponders though with a loose touch as he rounds Cillessen and Pique slides back to hook the ball off the line. What an opportunity for Valencia.
3 min: It’s a commanding start for Barcelona who brush the ball around with ease. Semedo has already begun to find acres of space on the right flank and breezes past two defenders before being stopped on the edge of the box.
KICK-OFF: We’re underway!
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