Lionel Messi‘s brace helped Barcelona claim the 2021 Copa del Rey title with a 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the final on Saturday.
The Blaugrana scored scored four goals in 12 second-half minutes to hand Athletic their second Copa del Rey final defeat in the past 14 days. The Basque side lost the long-delayed 2020 final to Real Sociedad, 1-0, on April 3.
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After a cagey first half, Barcelona opened the scoring on the hour mark through Antoine Griezmann, who turned in Frenkie de Jong‘s cross after slipping in front of a defender at the near post.
Barca added a second two minutes later when De Jong headed home a sumptuous cross from Jordi Alba — the Netherlands midfielder taking advantage of the defence tracking a run at the near post to convert from close range.
Messi added a third with a sensational effort in the 68th minute. After picking up the ball near midfield, Messi exchanged passes with teammates and ghosted by defenders before out-foxing two defenders in the box and coolly slotting home from close range.
He completed the scoring five minutes later when he popped up in the box and guided a Alba cross off Athletic keeper Unai Simon and into the net.