Valencia stuns Barcelona, denies Catalans fifth Copa del Rey title

Valencia has won the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2007-08 after beating Barcelona 2-1 to increase the heat on Ernesto Valverde.

Barcelona was denied an unprecedented fifth successive Copa del Rey crown as it lost 2-1 to Valencia in Saturday's final, heaping the pressure on under-fire coach Ernesto Valverde.

Having had a realistic chance at a treble just a few weeks ago, Barca finishes the season with only the league title to show for its efforts, a situation likely to increase Valverde's unpopularity among supporters.

Barca was way off its best in the first half at the Benito Villamarin and deservedly found itself trailing 2-0 at the break, as Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno clinically punished the defending champion.

Valverde's men pushed forward desperately after the break and Lionel Messi pulled one back shortly after being denied by the post, but its dominance proved futile as Valencia held on to win the Copa for the first time since 2008.

The warning signs were there for Barca after just five minutes, as Gameiro pressured Clement Lenglet into a wayward pass at the back and Rodrigo pounced, skipping past Jasper Cillessen and seeing his effort blocked on the line by Gerard Pique.

Neither Cillessen nor Pique could spare Barca 16 minutes later, however, as Jose Gaya charged forward on the break and picked out Gameiro, who shook off Jordi Alba and blasted home.

Rodrigo doubled the lead just past the half-hour mark, heading in Carlos Soler's inch-perfect cross from close range.

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Malcom and Arturo Vidal were introduced for Nelson Semedo and Arthur at half-time, as Barca pushed for a comeback.

Messi remained the one to watch, though, hitting the left-hand post with a gorgeous outside-of-the-boot effort just before the hour after a one-two with Malcom.

But he was not to be denied in the 73rd minute, as Messi tapped in after Lenglet's header came back off the upright.

Valencia squandered two chances to finish Barca off on the break deep into stoppage time, as Goncalo Guedes put wide when one-on-one and also missed an open goal from distance, but it held on to seal the win.

What does it mean? Valverde's future surely in doubt

If Valverde's popularity was not already a matter for debate, it certainly is now. With a LaLiga and Copa double, you could justifiably see him hanging on to the job for another season, but now things look a little cloudier, particularly given the increasing fan criticism of his leadership.

Arguably the only thing saving him at the moment is Messi's apparent backing.

Rodrigo and Gameiro lead by example

They got the goals, but Rodrigo and Gameiro did so much more as well. The pair led the line brilliantly, never giving Barca's defence a moment's rest, while their link-up play – with each other and the rest of the team – was exceptional.

Clement's long day

It started poorly for Lenglet, as the Frenchman made an awful error after just five minutes from which Valencia should have scored. He rarely looked comfortable thereafter, with Gameiro and Rodrigo giving him the runaround.

What's next?

Given it finished the season with just one trophy, a big close-season awaits Barca. There are doubts about Valverde's suitability, while the squad is short in a number of areas, such as centre-forward and full-back. As for Valencia, if it can keep hold of its star players and bolster the squad for the Champions League, it will be confident of another promising campaign next term.

Key Opta Facts: - Valencia is the second team to win the Copa del Rey title in the same year it celebrates its 100th anniversary, after Espanyol in 2000. - Lionel Messi has become the first player in Copa del Rey history to score in six different finals (seven goals). - Valencia has won its eighth Copa del Rey title, the first one since 2008, under Ronald Koeman (3-1 against Getafe at Vicente Calderon). - Barcelona has lost the first one-legged final in which Lionel Messi has scored (16 goals in 13 finals). - Valencia's Marcelino has won his first managerial game against Barcelona in all competitions, after 21 matches (W1 D6 L14).