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  Barcelona crowned kings of Spain

Barcelona crowned kings of Spain

REUTERS
Published : May 24, 2016, 3:02 am IST
Updated : May 24, 2016, 3:02 am IST

Barcelona’s Jordi Alba celebrates with team mates after scoring against Sevilla FC in the Copa del Rey final at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid on Sunday. Barcelona won 2-0. (Photo: AP )

Barcelona’s Jordi Alba celebrates with team mates after scoring against Sevilla FC in the Copa del Rey final at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid on Sunday. Barcelona won 2-0. (Photo: AP )

Ten-man Barcelona retained the King’s Cup with a 2-0 victory over Sevilla to complete a domestic double thanks to extra-time goals by Jordi Alba and Neymar at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Sunday.

Luis Enrique’s La Liga champions had Javier Mascherano sent off in the 36th minute but kept the score at 0-0 before Sevilla had Ever Banega dismissed in added time at the end of 90 minutes.

With both teams down to 10 men, Barcelona began to take control in the extra period and left back Alba burst down the wing to score in the 97th after a superb chip from Lionel Messi.

Sevilla were then reduced to nine players when defender Daniel Carrico was sent off for dissent late on and Neymar doubled Barcelona’s lead after also being set up by Messi.

It was the 28th time Barca had won the trophy but they had to battle as Unai Emery’s side, who won the Europa League for the third time in a row last week, piled on the pressure.

“It was difficult, especially playing for so long with 10 men against a side like Sevilla,” Alba said. “I’m happy to have scored and done the double.

“We couldn’t play the game we wanted but the side showed guts and we did what was needed.”

Barca captain and man of the match Andres Iniesta said the triumph sealed a great season for the club despite some suggesting their Champions League elimination, and thus failure to repeat the treble of 2015-16, spoiled the campaign. “It was a nice final, intense and exciting,” he said. “It was a last push for the club to complete a magnificent season. All finals are hard, but this was great, both we and Sevilla played well.”

The game’s dynamic changed drastically when Kevin Gameiro was brought down when Mascherano grabbed his shirt on the edge of the box.

Location: Spain, Madrid