Barcelona 2-0 Sevilla AET: Barcelona win fiery Copa del Rey final By Charlotte Marsh
Last Updated: 23/05/16 12:00am
Barcelona won their 28th Copa del Rey title as they beat Sevilla 2-0 after extra time in a fiery encounter that saw three red cards.The game was goalless after 90 minutes but both sides were reduced to 10 men after Javier Mascherano was sent off late in the first half and Ever Banega was given his marching orders in second-half stoppage time. Sevilla created the better chances during the regular period, but it was Jordi Alba's strike seven minutes into extra time that gave Barcelona the advantage, before Neymar added a second in the 122nd minute. Sevilla also had another player sent off before the full-time whistle as Daniel Carrico received two quick yellow cards with three minutes of extra time to play.
The Catalan side have now completed the domestic double - adding to their La Liga title from last weekend - and have won the Copa del Rey for a second successive season. In an even first half, it was Barcelona who went close inside the opening 10 minutes as Andres Iniesta played a delightful chip over the heads of the Sevilla defence to find Suarez, but the striker skewed his volley just wide.
It was Sevilla captain Coke's then just nicked the ball away from himself as Mariano fired a ball across the box before Dani Alves sent a shot flying wide from 30 yards out.
It was in the 36th minute that Barcelona were reduced to 10 men. Kevin Gameiro used his pace to try and get away from Mascherano and the defender dragged the striker down by grabbing onto his shirt and was instantly dismissed.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen was then called into his first real save of the game as he pushed Banega's curling free kick from the foul over the crossbar.
Sevilla came racing out of the traps after the break and could twice have taken an early second-half lead, with Banega having a shot from distance flash past the post before he smashed against the woodwork after his effort took a nick off Pique.
Luis Suarez was in the middle of another tackling point early in the half as he appeared to elbow Kevin Gamiero in the face and arguably should have received a card, but he was taken off not long after.
The Uruguay striker went down with an apparent hamstring injury - coming a minute after a clash of heads involving Lionel Messi - and hobbled off to be replaced by Rafinha.
Sevilla continued to create the best chances of the second half, with Grzegorz Krychowiak going closest as he smashed an effort from the top of the box, but Sergio Busquets' nick put it wide.
But Sevilla also went down to 10 men just before normal time was up as Banega was shown a straight red card after clipping a clean-through Neymar on the edge of the box.
The first period of extra time began as a slightly cagey affair, but Alba broke the deadlock with his first goal of the season. Messi played in a pin-point cross to the left-hand side for the defender and he managed to hold off his defender to slide home under Sergio Rico.
From then on it was Barcelona who dominated proceedings as the Sevilla goalkeeper pulled off a string of fine saves from a Pique header, Alves' long range shot and a strong Neymar header to keep his side within reach.
Sevilla's night got worse in the first of four minutes added on at the end of the second period with another red card. Carrico originally saw yellow for a trip on Messi but he protested too much with the referee and saw an instant second - sending Sevilla down to nine men.
And Barcelona had no trouble in taking full advantage to add a second not long after as Messi slid the ball to Neymar on the left of the box and he fired home to seal the Copa del Rey win.
http://www.skysports.com/football/barcelona-vs-sevilla/354555
