'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Barcelona clinched the 2020/21 Copa Del Rey title after grabbing a 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the final on Saturday.
Both sides fell to defeat in their last Copa Del Rey finals and were aiming to finally get their hands on the title.
Back in January, the hosts grabbed a shock win over Barcelona in the Spanish Super cup final. Ever-present striker Inaki Williams scored the decisive goal in extra time to hand Marcelino’s men a 3-2 win and end their six-year wait for a trophy.
However, it would be Barcelona who claimed the Copa Del Rey title when both sides squared off at the Estadio de La Cartuja on Saturday.
With Marcelino’s men pegged deep into their own half, Barcelona were given the space and time to operate fluidly all game, especially in attack.
Despite this, the game was deadlocked heading into the break, thanks to a wasteful display by the Barcelona frontmen. However, the second half brought a change to the game as Barcelona hit four goals to claim a resounding 4-0 win.
Antoine Griezmann made amends for his poor first-half outing by opening the scoring in the 60th minute, before Frenkie de Jong doubled the Blaugrana’s lead.
Lionel Messi then completed the route by grabbing a brace to hand Barcelona a 4-0 win and their first Copa Del Rey title since the 2017/18 season.
Athletic Bilbao 0-4 Barcelona Player Ratings
Athletic Bilbao player ratings
Unai Simon - 6/10
A heroic first-half performance from the Spanish shot-stopper. He kept his side in the game as he blocked out a few clear-cut chances from the visitors. However, it was only a matter of time as Barcelona piled on the pressure until they broke the deadlock in the second half.
Inigo Martinez - 5/10
He failed to deal with Barcelona’s constant waves of attack and was often second-best when dueling for the ball. He missed Athletic Bilbao’s chance to grab a goal in the game as he fluffed his finish.
Yeray Alvarez 5.5/10
Alvarez was the more solid of the hosts' central defensive pair. He was wasteful with his passes, completing just 50% of them, but would finish the game with four clearances and two tackles.
Oscar de Marcos - 5/10
It was a quiet night for the 32-year-old Spaniard. He failed to impose himself on the game and, along with his teammates, was often pegged back by Barcelona’s frontmen.
Mikel Balenziaga - 6/10
The full-back was Athletic Bilbao’s best performer besides Unai Simon. He kept the Barcelona defense busy as he constantly marauded forward to create something in attack. However, he was offered little support by his teammates.
Unai Lopez - 5/10
An unimpactful outing from the former Rayo Vallecano man. Barcelona’s superb midfield play meant he kept chasing the ball around before he was replaced in the 67th minute.
Iker Muniain - 4/10
Not the best of performances from the Athletic Bilbao captain. He was off pace from the start of the game and ultimately failed to grow into it. He was replaced at the half-time break.
Alex Berenguer 5.5/10
Berenguer had to track back occasionally to stop the Barcelona attack. He was decent in doing that, as the visitors failed to score in his 54 minutes on the pitch.
Dani Garcia - 5.5/10
The midfielder had a solid shift at the center of the park. He did the dirty job for the hosts, winning tackles and interceptions. However, he picked up a yellow card when he hacked down Lionel Messi in an attempt to stop a Barcelona counter.
Inaki Williams - 5/10
The striker was starved of serving up top as he was isolated by the defensive hosts. He finished the game with no shots on target before he was surprisingly substituted in the 67th minute.
Raul Garcia - 5.5/10
Athletic Bilbao’s defensive approach meant the veteran striker had to drop deep to support his midfield and backline. He did that diligently, winning two tackles, one clearance and one interception. Not bad for a center-forward.
Player ratings for the Athletic Bilbao substitutes
Inigo Lekue - 5/10
Inigo Lekue replaced the struggling Iker Muniain at half-time, but he also failed to make an impact on the game
Mikel Vesga - 5.5/10
He replaced Alex Berenguer in the 54th minute and was decent in midfield. He kept the play ticking with accurate passes. He completed over 80% of his attempted passes.
Unai Nunez - 4/10
With the score at 2-0, Nunez was brought on to inject fresh life and help mount a comeback for the hosts. He failed to do that.
Asier Villalibre - 4/10
Villalibre was one of the hosts’ triple sub in the 67th minute. He offered nothing in attack and failed to impact the game.
Yuri Berchiche - 4/10
He replaced Unai Lopez in the 67th minute but made no telling contribution
Barcelona player ratings
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen - 6/10
The Barcelona goalkeeper had nothing to do all game as the toothless hosts only managed one shot on target.
Oscar Mingueza - 6.5/10
A solid outing from the Barcelona academy graduate. Playing on the right side of the pitch, Mingueza linked up well with his frontmen and was diligent at the defensive end of the pitch.
Gerard Pique - 7/10
A vintage display from the veteran defender. He orchestrated the Barcelona backline and was on hand to kill any attack the hosts mounted high up the pitch. Pique did well to limit Inaki Williams' influence before the striker was hooked off in the second half.
Clement Lenglet - 7/10
An assured display from the French centre-back. Playing on the left side of Barcelona’s three-man defense, Lenglet stood his ground against the opposition, who aimed to start their counterattacks with aerial balls. He was superb in the air, winning all his six attempted aerial duels, alongside two clearances and two ground duels.
Sergino Dest - 6.5/10
Playing in the right wing-back role, the USA international showed his ability to attack and defend exquisitely. He was denied a brilliant assist after Antoine Griezmann failed to convert his low cross into the box. Defensively, he was solid against the vibrant Mikel Balenziaga but later faded as the game wore on.
Frenkie de Jong - 8.5/10
A world-class performance from the 23-year-old. He covered virtually every inch of the pitch, winning tackles and kick-starting attacks for the visitors. He finished the game with two assists, and also got on the scoresheet himself.
Sergio Busquets - 7/10
The veteran Spaniard was solid at the center of the park as he kept play ticking all game. He was neat and tidy with his passes, and this helped win the midfield battle. However, he missed a chance to open the scoring shortly after the break, failing to find the target from point-blank range.
Jordi Alba - 7.5/10
Barcelona finally saw that Alba-Messi connection they’ve sorely missed. He was simply superb down the left flank and would finish the game registering assists for De Jong and Lionel Messi’s goals.
Pedri - 6/10
An uncharacteristically quiet night from the Barcelona youngster. However, he kept his play simple and did the needful to help Ronald Koeman’s men secure the win. He made one tackle in the game before he was replaced by Ilaix Moriba in the 81st minute.
Antoine Griezmann - 7/10
After a first half plagued by clear-cut misses, Antoine Griezmann broke the deadlock on the hour mark after tucking home Frenk De Se Jong’s cross. He thought he grabbed his second of the game to make the score 5-0, but it was ruled out for offside by the VAR.
Lionel Messi - 9.5/10
A nearly perfect outing from the Barcelona captain. He was a menace to Athletic Bilbao's defense as he constantly slalomed into their box with ease. Messi grabbed Barcelona’s final two goals of the game and was crowned the competition's most valuable player.
Player ratings for Barcelona substitutes
Sergi Roberto - 5.5/10
He was quiet after coming on in the second half, but played his part to see out the victory.
Ilaix Moriba - 5.5/10
The midfielder replaced Pedri with nine minutes on the clock but did not make a telling contribution.
Ronald Araujo - 5/10
He came on for Gerard Pique for the final eight minutes of the game but was sloppy on the ball. The defender was lucky not to make a costly mistake as Barcelona held on for a clean sheet.
Ousmane Dembele - N/A
The Frenchman came on in the 87th minute and made no impact in the game.
Martin Braithwaite - N/A
The striker was brought on as a substitute in the 87th minute.
