Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 3-1 to claim their 27th Copa Del Rey success.
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi produced one of the greatest ever Copa Del Rey cup final goals as his side overcame a battling Athletic Bilbao 3-1 at the Nou Camp.
The Argentine international picked up the ball on the right wing, bamboozled three Bilbao defenders before smashing a low near-post shot past the hapless goalkeeper Herrerin Buisan.
His wonder goal sparked a 15-minute period where the Catalans could have scored as many as four more, but they did manage another through Neymar and went into the half-time interval 2-0 to the good.
A slow second period concluded with a consolation from Inaki Williams for Athletic, but not before Messi once again found the net, beautifully prodding in a Dani Alves cross to seal Barca’s second trophy of the season.
The 27-year-old’s second goal was his 58th of the season, and alongside Neymar and Luis Suarez their 120th combined in all competitions – a ridiculous Spanish record which may never be broken again.
Barca’s latest success on Saturday came two weeks after they secured the La Liga title, and one week ahead of a Champions League final showdown with Italian champions Juventus.
The game in Berlin will see one of the duo complete a historic treble, though Luis Enrique’s side are the clear pre-game favourites to lift their third Champions League trophy in six years.
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