Barcelona bid Enrique farewell with Copa Del Rey Success

Luis Enrique finished his tenure as Barcelona manager stylishly with a 3-1 Copa del Rey final triumph over Alaves at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a sumptuous surface on the half hr, only to be taken over by Theo Hernandez, whose elegant free-kick hauled Alaves level 3 mins later.

Yet 2 quick-fire objectives on the stroke of half-time from Neymar, in controversial circumstances, and also Paco Alcacer turned the video game firmly in Barcelona’s favour.

And the Catalans saw out the game – the last at Atletico Madrid’s renowned house – ending a screening campaign with cutlery as Luis Enrique brought the drape down on his spell at the club with his ninth major honour.

Messi took a starring duty from the initial whistle and so nearly set up Jordi Alba for the opener on seven minutes, however the left-back could just going the Argentine’s terse pass large.

Alaves were not overawed though as well as came within inches of damaging the predicament on 26 minutes when Ibai Gomez’s near-post initiative struck the woodwork and cannoned off Jasper Cillessen prior to flowing throughout the face of goal.

Barca reacted instantly, Alcacer deflecting Andres Iniesta’s careless shot on target, requiring Fernando Pacheco to conserve with his feet.

Pacheco’s supports were quickly breached though, as Messi played a one-two with Neymar as well as ruthlessly curled the return into the far edge with a novice surface.

There was rarely time to celebrate Messi’s 54th goal of the season as Hernandez whistled a sensational free-kick into the leading corner of Cillessen’s net 3 minutes later on.

Alaves looked readied to enter the break on degree terms but a late Barca rally on the cusp of half-time changed the tie.

First, Neymar settled a great team move with a close-range tap-in, although replays showed he was offside, prior to Messi slipped Alcacer via and also he slotted Barca’s 3rd in stoppage-time.

Ibai whistled a 30-yard free-kick over two minutes right into the second duration as Alaves began the second duration vibrantly.

But it was Pacheco who was called into action first, warding off Alcacer as he aimed to turn Messi’s luxurious cross residence.

Left with little choice yet to go all out, Alaves embarked on a duration of prominence but Acosta Deyverson saw efforts blocked by Andres Gomes as well as Cillessen in quick succession.