Football: Valencia knock Barcelona off Copa del Rey throne

SEVILLE, Spain -- Valencia beat Barcelona 2-1 to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday, ending the Spanish champions' four-year winning streak in the competition and denying them a domestic double.

Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno struck first-half goals to give Marcelino's dominant Valencia control of the final in Seville's sweltering Benito Villamarin stadium.

Record 30-times Cup winners Barcelona struggled without injured forwards Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele but Lionel Messi pulled the Catalans back into the game with a close-range finish.

Goncalo Guedes missed a gilt-edged chance in stoppage-time for Valencia but they held on to win their first major trophy since last lifting the Cup in 2008.

"I'm so happy because for me, my family, it's incredible," said Valencia captain Dani Parejo. "A club like Valencia deserves a lot more joy like this. I don't have the words, it's incredible.

"We've made history in a really significant year, our centenary year."

Valencia finished fourth in La Liga after a strong second half of the season, reaching the Europa League semi-finals and ending an impressive campaign with this victory.

By contrast, Barcelona's campaign collapsed in the last fortnight as they threw away a three-goal Champions League semi-final lead to be eliminated by Liverpool before letting the Cup slip out of their hands.

Barcelona were bidding to lift themselves from their humiliation on Merseyside by securing the ninth domestic double in their history, but despite Messi's efforts they were over-run by a determined and well-drilled Valencia side.

Gerard Pique was forced to clear Rodrigo's effort off the line before Gameiro blasted Marcelino's side ahead in the 22nd minute after good work from Jose Luis Gaya.

The Catalans failed to create openings and Rodrigo nodded home the second after Carlos Soler whipped a ball across the face of goal.

Messi struck the post with a delightful outside-of-the-boot effort before slotting home the rebound when Jaume Domenech saved Clement Lenglet's header for his 51st goal of the season, but it was not enough.

"Valencia are worthy champions and it's also been a good year for us," said Pique.

"It's always a good year when you win La Liga but the expectation was to have an even better year and that's not been the case. The season ends with a bittersweet feeling, because it could have been better.

"We aren't worrying about the manager's future, we must analyse ourselves and try to improve. The other decisions aren't in our hands, but we've said more than once that we would like him to stay on." 

(Reporting by Rik Sharma, editing by Ed Osmond)

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Football: Suarez double downs Madrid to send Barca into Cup final

MADRID -- A clinical Barcelona won 3-0 at Real Madrid in an intense second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday as a Luis Suarez double helped them secure a 4-1 aggregate victory and a spot in the final for the sixth straight season.

A dominant yet wasteful Real ravaged their rivals in the first half while spurning a string of clear chances at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Yet Barca went ahead against the run of play in the 50th minute as Ousmane Dembele led a counter-attack and Suarez slotted his pass into the net.

Spearheaded by the pace and confidence of Brazilian teenager Vinicius Jr, Madrid continued to fly forward but failed to find the target.

Barca effectively killed off the tie when Raphael Varane bundled the ball into his own net as he tried to prevent Suarez reaching another cross from Dembele.

Suarez then earned a penalty and further humiliated Madrid by converting with an audacious 'Panenka', deceiving goalkeeper Keylor Navas by chipping the ball into the net.

Barca, who lost first leg games to Levante and Sevilla in the Cup and drew 1-1 with Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final, booked their place in the final at the Benito Villamarin stadium, the home of Real Betis, on May 25.

Bidding to win the trophy for a record fifth year in a row, the Catalans will face either Betis or Valencia, who drew 2-2 in the first leg of their semi-final and meet again on Thursday.

"This is another demonstration of how good this team is. People keep saying that we don't care about the Cup, but we have shown that we always want to win every single trophy," Suarez told reporters.

NUMEROUS CHANCES

Real coach Santiago Solari stressed his side's dominance in the game but cursed their inability to take their numerous chances.

"In football you have to be efficient and take the chances you get," he said.

"We fell with honour, we could do no more. We were not clinical but they were, and we go home feeling hurt because we really wanted to reach the final."

Worst of all for Madrid, La Liga leaders Barca will be back at the Bernabeu once again on Saturday for a league fixture which, should they win again, would see them move 12 points clear of their arch rivals.

Barca coach Ernesto Valverde attempted to neutralise the threat of Vinicius by deploying right-sided defenders Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo to protect the left flank but the Brazilian was still the most dangerous player in the first half.

Vinicius could have won a penalty when Semedo clattered into him and had three clear chances to score before the interval, failing to hit the target twice from inside the area, and being thwarted by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

He continued to dance his way through Barca's defence after the break but his final touch let him down.

Shortly after Suarez's opener, he cut into the box and delivered a cross which Sergio Reguilon met with a diving header, but Ter Stegen flew across his goal to repel the effort.

Madrid, who were also beaten 3-0 by Barca at the Bernabeu in La Liga last season and were thrashed 5-1 by their rivals back in October, lost their heads after that chance and there was no coming back following Varane's own goal.

Barca seemed to relish their role as Real's tormentors and Suarez took the ball from usual penalty taker Lionel Messi to complete their fourth victory in five visits to the Bernabeu with an ice-cool finish from the spot. 

(Reporting by Richard Martin Editing by Toby Davis and Ian Chadband)

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Football: Messi unable to inspire Barca winner as Madrid hold on for draw

BARCELONA -- Real Madrid gained a measure of redemption at the Camp Nou by holding Barcelona to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday and taking the upper-hand in the semi-final of Copa del Rey. 

Neither Lionel Messi nor Gareth Bale were named in the starting line-ups for this first leg but their replacements filled the void as Malcom's curling shot cancelled out an early opener from Lucas Vazquez. 

After an impressive opening 20 minutes, Madrid were largely second best in a compelling, if unspectacular, Clasico but the result leaves them well-placed heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 27. 

For Santiago Solari's side, a resilient, gutsy display will also help erase the memory of their humiliation here in October, when they were thrashed 5-1, a result that caused Julen Lopetegui to be sacked the following day.

"Comparisons are unhelpful," said Solari. "But this result shows how hard the team is working."

Messi, who had been struggling with a thigh problem, and Bale, who faces a fight for place after recovering from a calf injury, both came on after the hour but neither could inspire a winner. 

Instead, it was Vazquez, and two youthful Brazilians that took centre stage. Vazquez scored but Vinicius Junior, the youngest Real Madrid player to feature in a Clasico this century, was his team's greatest threat until the 18-year-old departed in the second half. 

"I'm not surprised by how he plays because I've known him since he arrived," said Solari. "But an 18-year-old boy playing and developing in this way, that is a surprise."

Malcom was just as unpredictable and in the end, it was the 21-year-old's intervention that keeps Barca on level terms. 

"The tie is in the balance," coach Ernesto Valverde said. "A draw is a fair reflection," said Sergio Busquets.

Barely 10 seconds had passed before Toni Kroos snapped into Ivan Rakitic, setting the tone for what was a dominant opening spell from Madrid. 

Vinicius led the way. He was fearless, full of imperfections and erratic decisions but delivering moments of clarity too when Madrid were at their most threatening. 

- Benzema sets up Vazquez -

He jinked inside Nelson Semedo and teed up Kroos before producing the cross that created the goal, an arching ball over the head of Jordi Alba, which Karim Benzema tucked back for Vazquez to poke in. 

Rakitic and Philippe Coutinho were both careless in possession but Vinicius lacked precision to capitalise, first scuttling into Benzema and then misreading the Frenchman's run. 

Barca had been just as frantic, with Luis Suarez even tripping over his own feet. But they improved and after half an hour, were in the ascendancy. 

Malcom missed a one-on-one and then became their best player for a period, crossing for Rakitic to head against the bar and teeing up Suarez to sting the hands of Keylor Navas. 

The home fans called Messi's name at the start of the second half and when he jogged up the touchline shortly before the hour, they roared as if for a goal. 

They did that soon after too, after an equaliser of chaos and quality in equal measure. Navas rushed out to block Alba before Suarez curled a brilliant shot that beat the diving Sergio Ramos but not the post. 

It spilled to Malcom and he still had work to do, 20 yards out with white shirts in front. He found a gap. 

Messi came on, along with Arturo Vidal, Bale and Casemiro. Vinicius was among those to make way, his bright start fading with fatigue. 

Neither side seemed sure how much to commit for a winner. Messi twice weaved through but the best chance fell to Bale, who received from Benzema after Marc-Andre ter Stegen's skewed clearance. The goal was open but Bale's touch was heavy and Semedo made a crucial block.

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Football: Messi included in Barca squad but Valverde will not take risks

BARCELONA -- Lionel Messi was named in Barcelona's squad on Tuesday ahead of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid but coach Ernesto Valverde insists he will not take any risks with his captain's fitness.

Messi returned to training on Tuesday before the first leg at the Camp Nou on Wednesday, despite feeling discomfort in his thigh during Barca's draw with Valencia on Sunday.

The Argentinian missed training on Monday but was back with the squad on Tuesday evening. During the 15 minutes open to the media, a smiling Messi was seen doing some light jogging and taking part in a relaxed keep-ball session.

Shortly before training, Valverde had said in a press conference: "I have not seen him yet and I don't have an answer.

"There is a training session and we will see how he is, whether he can do it and whether he is in the right condition.

"Then we will decide. If he is fit, he will play and if he is not, he will not play."

Valverde added: "It is true that sometimes we have had doubts with players and we have waited until the last moment, and it's the same with Messi."

Barcelona face a testing period of fixtures, including three Clasicos in the next month. The next two will come back-to-back, with the second leg of the Copa del Rey scheduled for February 27 before a La Liga fixture on March 2, both at the Santiago Bernabeu.

There will also be two Champions League matches against Lyon to negotiate, as well as tricky league trips to Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla.

- Valverde cautious over Messi fitness -

Valverde indicated he would be cautious with Messi's fitness. "I am not very supportive of taking risks when there are so many games ahead," Valverde said. "If the league ended tomorrow, it would be a different question.

"But risking the fitness of any player -- Messi or anyone else -- I'm not really in favor of it because they inevitably play with some fear, and games like tomorrow cannot be played with fear." 

Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari had said earlier on Tuesday that he hoped Messi would be available. "In football it's always best that the best players play in every game, that's just how it is," Solari said.

Ousmane Dembele is close to recovering from an ankle injury but the game against Madrid came too soon. The Frenchman took part in training on Tuesday but was still left out of the squad.

Valverde admitted he might have to rotate his line-up given the number of important games coming up. "The calendar is very complicated," he said. 

"It was already complicated in January but with this semi-final at a very high level, more league games, more games in the Champions League knock-out stages, we have to walk a fine line. We are in a decisive part of the season."

Madrid sit eight points adrift of Barcelona in La Liga but have won their last five games in a row in all competitions. They appear a team transformed since the 5-1 defeat by Barca in October.

"Real Madrid usually play well at the Camp Nou," Valverde said. "In October they were going through a delicate period but now they are better. We are expecting them at their best."

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Suarez sent-off as Barca oust Atletico to reach final

BARCELONA, Spain -- Luis Suarez booked Barcelona's place in a fourth consecutive Copa del Rey final but was sent off as a bad-tempered 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday secured a 3-2 aggregate win.

Suarez's second goal of the tie looked to have put the semi-final beyond the visitors just before half-time.

However, the Uruguayan was one of three players sent-off in a pulsating second-half and will miss May's final against Alaves or Celta Vigo.

Kevin Gameiro set up a grandstand finish seven minutes from time moments after blazing a penalty over the bar.

But Barca saw out five minutes of stoppage time with nine men after Suarez's first red card for the club.

"It makes me laugh because it was like he (the referee) wanted to do it," an angry Suarez told Gol Television.

"We need to see if we can appeal the second yellow because it isn't even a foul, but we already know how these things go."

Atletico needed a first win at the Camp Nou since 2006 to have any chance of overturning a 2-1 first leg deficit inflicted by stunning goals from Suarez and Lionel Messi.

Yet, a fine performance in which they pushed Barcelona all the way gave Atletico boss Diego Simeone hope they can recapture during the rest of the campaign the form that took them to the Champions League final last season.

"We are out of the competition but have our heads held high and the strength that we have three fantastic months (ahead)," said Simeone.

"Hopefully we can maintain what we showed against them in the second-half the other day and during the 90 minutes today."

- Messi-Suarez magic -

Atletico nearly secured the perfect start with a lightning counter-attack from a Barca corner that ended with Yannick Carrasco stinging the palms of Jasper Cillessen.

However, the visitor's intense early pressing eased as the half wore on and Barca went in front just before half-time thanks to more magic from Messi and Suarez.

Messi sucked in the Atletico defence and when his effort from the edge of the area was parried by Miguel Angel Moya, Suarez gobbled up the rebound for his 23rd goal of the season.

Atletico were dealt an injury blow at the start of the second period as Diego Godin had to be replaced by Lucas Hernandez just five days after the French defender was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.

However, Simeone's men were given a glimmer of hope just before the hour mark when Sergi Roberto dived in on Filipe Luis and was deservedly shown a second yellow card.

That hope should have been bolstered moments later when Antoine Griezmann smashed the ball inside Cillessen's far post, but was wrongly flagged offside.

Barca's nerves were eased when Atletico were also reduced to 10 men 21 minutes from time when a slip from Carrasco saw him wipe out Arda Turan, the Belgian also being shown a second yellow card.

Messi's incredible run of scoring free-kicks in 2017 nearly continued with a driven effort from fully 35 yards that came crashing back off the bar.

Atletico were given a lifeline when Gerard Pique was adjudged to have tripped Gameiro inside the area with 10 minutes remaining.

Griezmann had missed his fifth penalty in seven attempts at the weekend and handed over responsiblity to his compatriot, but Gameiro blazed over.

Just three minutes later, though, the two combined to great effect as Griezmann's decision to cross rather than shoot caught the Barca defence off guard and Gameiro rolled into an empty net.

Atletico then pilled on the pressure in search of a winning goal on the night to send the game into extra time.

Suarez was the third player to be shown a second yellow for a stray elbow on Koke.

But a great block from Samuel Umtiti to divert Luis's goalbound drive preserved Barca's incredible record of not having lost a tie to anyone other than Real Madrid in the Cup sine 2010.

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Suarez, Messi hand Barca Cup lead over Atletico

MADRID, Spain -- Wonder goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi left Barcelona with a 2-1 Copa del Rey semi-final, first leg advantage over Atletico Madrid to take back to the Camp Nou next week.

Suarez's solo effort and a thunderous strike from Messi gave Barca a deserved commanding lead at half-time.

Yet, Atletico roared back after the break as Antoine Griezmann halved the arrears and the hosts went close to an equaliser as they piled on the pressure in the final stages.

However, Diego Simeone's men were left to rue their slow start with Barca now favorites to make a fourth straight Cup final ahead of the second leg on February 7.

"It is normal that playing here at their home they would push us and they were much better in the second-half than the first," said Suarez.

"The didn't have anything to lose. They risked a lot more and made us suffer a little."

The honors have been split two apiece in the four previous two-legged ties between these sides in the past three seasons.

Yet there was a gulf in class as Barca took control in the first 45 minutes.

It took just seven minutes for Suarez to open the scoring with his seventh goal in nine appearances against Atletico.

The Uruguayan ran half the length of the field, leaving Diego Godin and Stefan Savic in his wake, before slotting the ball home with the outside of his foot into the far corner.

Suarez should have had a second when he was played in by Neymar, but, inside of going for goal, the former Liverpool striker tried to return the ball to the Brazilian who couldn't control.

Messi was the source of most of Barca's best moves and sealed a scintillating first-half performance with a stunning finish for the second 12 minutes before half-time when he blasted home off the inside of the post from outside the box.

Atletico had offered precious little other than one effort from Koke that dipped onto the roof of the net before the break.

However, the hosts were a team transformed after the break with Fernando Torres introduced alongside Griezmann up front.

"We spoke at half-time and I think in the second-half we got close to the team we have always been," said Atletico boss Simeone.

"I am left with that positive feeling. We were close to a draw, we fronted up against all the difficulties we faced in the first-half."

Atletico were back in the tie just before the hour mark when a free-kick to the back post found Godin and his header across goal was turned home by Griezmann.

The French international had a glorious chance to then level moments later when he was picked out perfectly by Filipe Luis's low cross.

However, Griezmann's effort was straight at Jasper Cillessen, who saved from point blank range.

Barca could have put the tie to bed with a third away goal as a Messi free-kick was brilliantly turned onto the bar by Miguel Angel Moya.

Neymar then had a glorious chance as Messi again split the Atletico defence, but his careless finish flew miles over the bar with just Moya to beat.

Barca could and arguably should have been punished in the latter stages as Torres flicked another fine Luis cross inches wide.

Torres also fired wide with a much better opening from the edge of the area before Griezmann rifled a thirty-yard strike inches past Cillessen's far post.

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Barcelona edge out Sevilla in bad-tempered Cup final

MADRID, Spain -- Jordi Alba and Neymar struck in extra-time as Barcelona completed a league and Cup double by lifting the Copa del Rey for a 28th time after a 2-0 win over Sevilla in a fiery game that saw three red cards on Sunday.

Javier Mascherano's dismissal just before half-time for pulling down Kevin Gameiro put Barca on the back foot and they were further depleted when 59-goal top scorer Luis Suarez limped off early in the second period.

However, they resisted Sevilla's pressure after the break and Barca's numerical disadvantage was cancelled out in stoppage time when Ever Banega saw red for chopping down Neymar.

Barca dominated the extra 30 minutes, but needed just six to finally make the breakthrough when Lionel Messi's sumptuous pass picked out Alba to volley into the far corner.

Neymar then slotted home a second in the dying seconds from another brilliant Messi assist after Daniel Carrico had also been dismissed for two bookable offences.

"It was a great intense and exciting final," said Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta.

"It was a last push for the club to complete a magnificent season."

Sevilla were looking for a double of their own after winning a third consecutive Europa League by beating Liverpool 3-1 on Wednesday.

However, just as in a thrilling 5-4 defeat to Barca to open the season in the European Super Cup in August, they fell just short as Luis Enrique's men claimed their fourth trophy of the season, having also won the Club World Cup in December.

"It has been a spectacular end to the season," added Barca boss Luis Enrique.

"The team has known how to compete marvellously despite the difficulties we have faced this season."

And Sevilla coach Unai Emery believes his side's exertions in midweek robbed them of the energy needed to make their numerical advantage count.

"We lacked freshness. If we had have been fresher we would have been able to create more chances," said Emery.

"Barca didn't have many opportunities, but they were efficient."

- Anthem jeers -

The political fallout over an initial ban on Catalan separatist flags by the Madrid authorities that was eventually overturned on appeal in the courts continued before kick-off as Barca fans jeered the Spanish national anthem.

The game appeared to swing Sevilla's way nine minutes before half-time when Mascherano hauled down Gameiro just outside the box as he bore down on goal.

Banega nearly doubled Barca's punishment as his sweet strike from the resulting free-kick was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Sevilla roared back from a goal down at the break to outclass Liverpool in midweek and started the second-half with intent once more as Banega's low drive came back off the post.

Barca were then dealt another huge blow just before the hour mark when Suarez pulled up with a muscle injury before leaving the field in tears with his chances of representing Uruguay at the Copa America next month now in jeopardy.

Sevilla were camped in the Barca half for much of the second half, but struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Grzegorz Krychowiak saw a deflected effort flash just wide, whilst Vicente Iborra's appeals for a penalty after he clashed with Dani Alves were waived away.

Parity was restored in numbers on each side in stoppage time when Banega saw red for tripping Neymar on the edge of the area, but Sergio Rico tipped over Messi's resulting free-kick to take the game into extra time.

However, the Spanish international was left flat-footed when Alba latched onto Messi's ball over the top six minutes into extra-time and volleyed across goal into the far corner.

Rico kept Sevilla in the game with brilliant saves from Pique and Sergio Busquets, whilst Dani Alves also hit the post from distance as Barca threatened a second.

Sevilla's hopes of an equaliser were ended when Daniel Carrico was also sent-off for a second bookable offence.

And Messi promptly teed up Neymar to round off Barca's fourth Cup triumph in eight years in stoppage time.

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