Barca’s double hopes dashed by Cup loss against Valencia

FC Barcelona’s domestic double hopes were dashed as they were beaten by Valencia 2-1 in the Copa del Rey final at Estadio Benito Vilamarin on Saturday evening.

Kevin Gamiero and Rodrigo scored for the winners while European top scorer Lionel Messi pulled one back for the LaLiga champions.

Rodrigo doubled Los Ches’ lead in the 33rd minute. Dani Parejo left his marker for dead in midfield and played a brilliant throughball to the pacy Carlos Soler, who beat Alba for speed before crossing for the grateful Rodrigo to head home from a couple of yards out.

Barca coach Valverde reacted to the two-goal deficit by conducting a double substitution just before the second half, bringing on Malcom for Nelson Semedo and Arturo Vidal for Arthur.

Lionel Messi is the first player in history to score in six different Copa del Rey finals:

✓ 2009
✓ 2012
✓ 2015
✓ 2017
✓ 2018
✓ 2019

One might not be enough tonight. ? pic.twitter.com/rVac2r05wt

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 25, 2019

Messi seemed to take the tie into pulsating finish when the Argentine scored his 28th goal against Valencia in the 73rd minute. But the goal was not sufficient to avoid a well deserved victory for Valencia.

They held on to their slender one-goal advantage and prevented Barca from claiming a fifth Copa del Rey crown in a row.