MADRID -- Three quick thoughts from the 2016 Copa del Rey final at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, as Barcelona won the trophy by defeating Sevilla 2-0 in extra time.
1. Jordi Alba wins it for Barca in the end
Jordi Alba's 97th-minute goal and Neymar's late clincher were enough for Barcelona to beat Sevilla 2-0 in a highly dramatic Copa del Rey final at the Estadio Vicente Calderon in Madrid on Sunday. After a superb game had served up everything except goals, Alba proved an unlikely deadlock breaker, as he raced onto Lionel Messi's pass to score. As exhaustion finally caught up with Sevilla, Neymar netted late on and the Catalans won a record 28th Spanish King's Cup trophy.
Normal time saw everything except the net bulging, with Barca's Javier Mascherano seeing red before half-time and Sevilla's Ever Banega the same just as the 90 minutes were almost up. Both players went for professional fouls, with referee Carlos del Cerro Grande right with the big decisions, although many of his other calls annoyed the two teams.
Sevilla's brave and clever performance maybe deserved more, but Barca were excellent when playing with a man less and in the end outlasted the Andalusians to claim the trophy.
There was a friendly atmosphere pregame, despite the week's long, drawn-out controversy over Catalan nationalist Estelada flags at the stadium. Things were also very evenly matched through the opening stages. Sevilla were well set up and working really hard, and Barca were unable to get their usual passing rhythm going.
On 36 minutes came the first half's huge talking point. Kevin Gameiro was sprung over the top by Vicente Iborra's flick-on and got behind Mascherano, with the players tangling right on the edge of the box. The red card came out for Barca's No. 14, with a free kick inside the "D" of the box awarded. It seemed the correct call, although half the stadium disagreed.
Banega's free kick was the game's first proper shot on target, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen tipped the ball over the bar. Into the second half and Sevilla tried to make their man advantage pay, with Inter Milan-bound Banega's low 20-yarder hitting the post with Ter Stegen beaten.
After Barca's top scorer Luis Suarez limped off injured and sat in tears on the bench, Sergio Busquets made two sprawling blocks in 30 seconds to save his side. Gerard Pique was also strong in the air and quick across the ground, as the Blaugrana back line held firm.
With the tension rising all around an electric Calderon, Barca's goalkeeping coach Jose Ramon de la Fuente was sent to the stands, and Sevilla denied what looked a penalty when Dani Alves nudged Iborra eight yards out. Banega was then giving his marching orders, so the two teams began extra time with 10 apiece.
It seemed we were heading for penalties, but Alba found the energy to chase down a perfect Messi ball behind the defence and stretched out a leg to guide the ball past Rico and just inside the far post. The drama continued with even Del Cerro Grande needing treatment for cramp, and Barca might have added a clinching goal. Sevilla were then reduced to nine men though, with Daniel Carrico also off, and Neymar knocked home from close range to finish one of the most entertaining Copa finals in years.
2. Sevilla come so close
Just four days after their epic effort in storming back to win Wednesday's Europa League final against Liverpool, Sevilla were back for their 63rd fixture of the season. And they took the game to Barca from the start. Inside the first five minutes, Gameiro had taken on and beaten both Blaugrana centre-backs, even if no clear chance was created.
Sevilla coach Unai Emery's plan involved fielding Banega as a deep-lying playmaker and pushing Iborra forward as a physical No. 10.
In many ways, this seemed counterintuitive, but it worked very well. Banega was breaking up attacks well, keeping close to his fellow Rosario native Messi, and also showing some sure touches in possession.
Meanwhile, the canny placing of Iborra helped when the tall midfielder headed on a long ball and Gameiro was sprung behind the Barca back line. The France international went sprawling, and the red card seemed the only decision.
Sevilla kept their shape and their heads into the second half, intelligently managing the extra man. They showed patience in possession, not wanting to knock aimless balls into the box and wary of Barca's evident threat on the break. On the balance of play, they probably should have scored in normal time, but with some dramatic scrambling the Blaugrana back line just held out.
Into extra-time at 10 apiece, exhaustion seemed a factor for Sevilla. Left-back Sergio Escudero was down for cramp just seconds before right-winger Vitolo was outpaced as Barca scored. They kept battling valiantly, and Vitolo tested Ter Stegen, before Carrico's red card and Neymar's late goal finally ended their season.
3. Luis Enrique's Barca complete double treble
Luis Enrique has faced many challenges in his two years as Barcelona coach, and throughout his career on the bench, but 0-0 in a cup final with his team a man down was a new question to face. The former Barca midfielder decided to take off all-action midfielder Ivan Rakitic at the break, returning to a back four by sending on Jeremy Mathieu and keeping all of his big-name South American attackers on the pitch.
There was a huge risk in that, and Sevilla were well on top in midfield early in the second half. But then came top scorer Suarez limping off, something that on balance probably helped his side. Luis Enrique could now balance the team better, with midfielder Rafinha sent on.
The 10 men kept their shape well, with the midfield three playing tight together and Messi and Neymar roaming to keep the Sevilla defence honest. The way Barca defended when a man down, with Pique and Busquets both outstanding, was in keeping with the harder edge Luis Enrique has brought to the team.
Meanwhile, both frontmen, along with Andres Iniesta, were holding possession well and dribbling at their markers, winning useful free kicks to ease the pressure. These three combined in just this way in the move that saw Banega sent off and the numbers evened up again. With more space on the pitch in extra time, Barca could then make their extra quality and energy count in the final 30 minutes.
The result means Barca have bounced back from Champions League disappointment during their dip in form in April to finish off a domestic double. In doing so, they became the first side to retain the Copa del Rey since 1997, when they did it themselves, and Luis Enrique becomes just the third coach ever to do back-to-back Liga and Copa doubles.