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Copa del Rey | Final
May 30, 2015 at 8.30pm UK
 
BL

1-3

Williams (79')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Messi (20', 74'), Neymar (36')

Player Ratings: Athletic Bilbao 1-3 Barcelona

:Headline: Player Ratings: Athletic Bilbao 1-3 Barcelona: ID:225659: from db_amp
Sports Mole takes a closer look at how each player performed during Barcelona's 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final.

Barcelona won the 2015 Copa del Rey final with a 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou on Saturday.

Lionel Messi (2) and Neymar were both on the scoresheet for Barca, who led 3-0 entering the final 15 minutes.

Bilbao registered late on through Inaki Williams, but were powerless to stop the Catalan outfit winning this competition for a 27th time.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at how each player performed at the Camp Nou.


BILBAO

Goal

Iago Herrerin: Conceded three times, but made a couple of outstanding saves, including one from Gerard Pique in the first period. Helped keep the score down in the first period. (7/10)

Defence

Unai Bustinza: Extremely inexperienced at this level and it showed. Decent in possession, but was caught out defensively for Barcelona's third goal. Had a difficult evening at the Camp Nou. (5/10)

Aymeric Laporte: Was powerless to stop Messi running the show in Barcelona, but the impressive 21-year-old showed plenty of reasons why he is so highly-rated in European football. (6/10)

Xabier Etxeita: Just could not live with the movement from Barcelona, especially in the first period. Improved in the second half, but did not look comfortable under pressure. (5/10)

Mikel Balenziaga: Did his best to break forward and managed to do so in the first period. However, the full-back dropped deeper in the second half as Barcelona kept possession. (6/10)

Midfield

Andoni Iraola: Given a brilliant send-off by the Bilbao supporters on his final appearance for the club. Typically-busy performance down the right and delivered a couple of excellent crosses. (6/10)

Benat: Has so much natural ability, but just never really got into the game. A couple of efforts from distance, but that was about it from the Spanish midfielder. (5/10)

Mikel San Jose: Was a shade fortunate not to pick up a booking for some tasty challenges throughout the match. Provided a presence in midfield, but did not see much of the ball. (6/10)

Mikel Rico: Was surprisingly deployed in a wide position and caused plenty of problems early on. The midfielder faded badly, however, and was replaced in the 74th minute. (6/10)

Attack

Inaki Williams: Quite comfortably his team's best player on the night. Hit the crossbar in the first period before finding the back of the net late on. A constant threat to the Barca defence. (8/10)

Aritz Aduriz: Has had such a wonderful season for Bilbao, but struggled to make his mark here. Won his share of aerial battles, but did not have many opportunities of real note. (6/10)

Substitutes

Markel Susaeta: Replaced Iraola just before the hour and showed good energy in the final third. Delivered some dangerous crosses on what was a decent cameo performance. (6/10)

Ander iturraspe: Replaced Rico in the 74th minute - moments after Messi had scored Barcelona's third. Did as well as he could during a stage where the game was over. (6/10)

Ibai Gomez: Only given the final 15 minutes, but made a real impact. Set up Williams for the striker's goal with a brilliant cross and twice came close to scoring himself. (7/10)


BARCELONA

Goal

Marc-Andre ter Stegen: Did not have an awful lot to do, but was confident from crosses. Had a nervy moment in the first half though when he almost allowed Williams in on goal. (6/10)

Defence

Dani Alves: Now looks certain to leave Barcelona this summer, which seems quite extraordinary. Still one of the best right-backs in the world and set up both of Messi's goals on the night. (8/10)

Gerard Pique: Has had a fine second half to the season and dealt well with the physical threat of Aduriz. Found Williams tough to handle, but had another strong night overall. (7/10)

Javier Mascherano: Still seen by many as a midfielder, but the Argentine is also an excellent centre-back. Reads the game so well and that was once again the case here. (7/10)

Jordi Alba: Provides such an outlet in the final third for Barcelona. Was alert defensively, but spent most of the game causing problems in an attacking area. (7/10)

Midfield

Ivan Rakitic: Lost a bit of form earlier in the season, but has been excellent over the last three or four months. Another strong and composed performance from the Croatian midfielder. (7/10)

Sergio Busquets: Got himself involved in some nonsense late on during a spiky period of the game, but his midfield work was once again excellent. Plays such a crucial role in this team. (7/10)

Andres Iniesta: As expected, extremely tidy in possession as he kept things ticking over in the middle of the park. Departed 10 minutes into the second period for Xavi. (6/10)

Attack

Neymar: Angered Bilbao with some show-boating late on, but the Brazilian's overall performance was once again very impressive. Scored Barcelona's second of the night in the first period. (8/10)

Luis Suarez: Could not join Messi and Neymar on the scoresheet, but put Neymar's goal on a plate and was once again involved in everything in the final third. Such a threat. (8/10)

Lionel Messi: Scored twice - including one of the all-time great goals in Copa del Rey history. Caused absolute havoc in the final third and was once again on his own planet. (9/10)

Substitutes

Xavi: On his final Barcelona appearance at the Camp Nou, the Spaniard ran the game in the final 35 minutes. Showed his full range of skills and rattled the post with a free kick late on. (7/10)

Jeremy Mathieu: Replaced Alba in the 77th minute and slotted effortlessly into the left-back position. Can be pleased with his first season in a Barcelona shirt. (6/10)

Pedro: Remains second-choice to Messi, Neymar and Suarez, and the Spaniard had little time to make a serious impact after entering 10 minutes before the end. (6/10)


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