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The second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final between Barcelona and Sevilla was a banger of a game, as Barcelona looked to overturn their 2 goal deficit from the first leg where they fielded a much weaker side.
This time Ernesto Valverde named a strong line-up for the game and expected to make a comeback against a very strong Sevilla side under Pablo Machin.
La Blaugrana started the game in bright fashion as they scored 2 goals in under 30 mins to cancel Sevilla's first-leg advantage. Later on, goals from Sergi Roberto, Luis Suarez, Messi, and another goal from Coutinho in the second half sealed the deal for Barcelona, as they cruised past Sevilla with ease in what was expected to be a tough fixture for Barcelona.
The final goal scored by Messi was an amazing counter-attack which was mesmerising to the eye, as Barcelona completed the drubbing, finishing the game in the best way possible.
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#3 Phillipe Coutinho finds his scoring touch
Coutinho started the game in the absence of the in-form Ousmane Dembele who is injured. he hasn't had the best of weeks for a while now and wasn't expected to have a major impact on the game. But he shut critics up by scoring 2 goals, one a penalty which Messi offered him, and the other a header.
Although he had scored 2 goals, his overall performance wasn't one that can be set as a benchmark, as he had a pretty underwhelming game if you take away the goals. But goals can increase the confidence of a player - that he needs.
Only time will tell if he can replicate his Liverpool form which earned him the move to Barca.
#2 Sevilla lose the plot completely
Sevilla set up to counter attack against La Blaugrana rather than start on the front foot like they did in the first leg which gave them the lead in the first place.
With Quincy Promes and Guilherme Arana as the wing-backs, they were set up for countering with pace, trying to take advantage of Barcelona who play a pretty high line and are more defensively vulnerable at the back without the likes of Umtiti, who was a rock for the club last season.
Unluckily for Machin, Barcelona outplayed Sevilla, and Valverde will be a happy man with the result. Although Arana bagged a goal, it was too little too late for Sevilla as the damage was already done, and the match was out of sight for Sevilla. Work needs to be done, but a lot to look forward to for Sevilla and Machin.
#1 Cillessen too good to be a back-up
Ever since arriving at the Camp Nou, Cillessen has been playing the role back-up keeper behind the German international, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has been performing at very high levels for Barca. But the performances of Cillessen over the past 2 years prove that he is too good to be a back-up.
Although one may argue he isn't at the level of Oblak, De Gea, or Ter Stegen, he surely can improve any team in need of a good goalkeeper. In the quarter-final against Sevilla, he made many crucial saves, but the most important of all was a penalty he saved early on which could've sent the match either way, and was very crucial for Barcelona's victory in the game.
It may seem like Cillessen is happy to be playing the role of a back-up, and it may be the best goalkeeper pairing ever, with a quality back-up available for Ter Stegen on the sidelines.
