After the final whistle at the Benito Villamarín Stadium in Sevilla blew, Valencia’s players collapsed on the ground. It was partially due to exhaustion on a hot night in southern Spain, and partially because they could hardly believe what they had just done.
Valencia shocked Barcelona by a 2-1 final to claim the Copa del Rey, the club’s first major title in 11 years.
The Chés jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and held on to take home the victory in the cup final despite a second-half Leo Messi goal.
Valencia, which finished 4th in La Liga this season, got on the board first with a stunning Kevin Gameiro strike in the 21st minute that Barça keeper Jasper Cillessen couldn’t get to.
They took a 2-0 advantage when Rodrigo Moreno headed in a cross from Carlos Soler only 12 minutes later.
Barça tried desperately to generate chances in the second half of the game, but Valencia’s back line held solid. The only goal that Barcelona managed to score was after a bar bounced off of the post and to Leo Messi after a corner.
Valencia’s win ends Barcelona’s four-year reign as the champions of Spain’s domestic tournament. It’s their first Copa del Rey trophy since the 2009 edition.
