5 reasons why Barcelona need to win the Copa del Rey this season (2020-21)

Barcelona
Barcelona

#3 Motivation for youngsters

Youngsters like Pedri have stepped up admirably this season
Youngsters like Pedri have stepped up admirably this season

One of the best things Ronald Koeman has done is integrating a number of youngsters into the Barcelona first team.

There has been a good mix of talented young signings - Pedri, Ronald Araujo and Sergino Dest - and La Masia starlets like Oscar Mingueza, Ilaix Moriba and Riqui Puig. The youngsters, with their hunger and enthusiasm, have immensely improved the team.

Barcelona are 11th in the top-five leagues for most minutes (15%) given to U21s. That is all the more impressive, considering Barcelona's best young player, Ansu Fati, who started the season on fire, has been out injured for a long time.

With a great current crop and talented youngsters coming through the ranks, a trophy in their first season at the club would massively inspire and motivate them.


#4 Barcelona have struggled a lot to get to the final

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid both fell by the wayside in this season's Copa Del Rey, getting knocked out by third-tier sides, Alarcon and Cornella, respectively.

Barcelona have also endured some nervy moments but have come out unscathed. Against Cornella, they needed extra time to clinch the win after missing two penalties in normal time.

They also struggled against Rayo Vallecano in the second round, falling behind in the second half before staging a comeback.

In the quarter-finals, Granada led them 2-0 till the 87th minute, but Jordi Alba and Antonie Griezmann suddenly came to life, and the Blaugrana managed a 5-3 comeback victory in extra time.

Barcelona's inspired run in this season's Copa Del Rey didn't stop here. In the first leg of their semi-finals, they lost 2-0 against Sevilla. The Blaugrana persevered, with Gerard Pique heading in the equaliser deep into added time in the second leg before Martin Braithwaite scored the winner in extra time.

Clearly, Barcelona have had to endure a lot during their Copa Del Rey campaign but have shown incredible resilience and fighting spirit to reach the final. A win would be just reward for their efforts.


#5 Lionel Messi's last trophy with Barcelona?

Lionel Messi could depart Barcelona with a Copa Del Rey win.
Lionel Messi could depart Barcelona with a Copa Del Rey win.

If Barcelona do end up winning the Copa del Rey, that might very well be Lionel Messi's last trophy with the club, and that's the least Barcelona could do for him.

Messi's contract expires in the summer, and he wanted to leave last year itself. There is solid interest from both Manchester City and PSG, and realistically, both teams are in a better position to win the Champions League (which Messi last won in 2015) than Barcelona.

Although the rumours seem to have cooled down of late, it is still quite possible that Lionel Messi could leave Barcelona at the end of the season.

The Argentine, who joined the club aged 13, has won 34 trophies at Barcelona, scoring or assisting nearly 1000 goals. Considering what Messi has contributed to the club for almost two decades, Barcelona possibly owe him the Copa Del Rey title.

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