What a way for Andres Iniesta to bow out. The Estadio Wanda Metropolitano was his stage and his was surely one of the best performances seen there to date.
Barcelona equalled the biggest ever margin of victory in a Copa del Rey final and in truth it could’ve been even more comprehensive.
From start to finish the Catalans were sharper, the quickest to every ball, fierce in the tackle and lethal when chances presented themselves.
It makes an absolute mockery of the rumours that Ernesto Valverde needs to be relieved of his duties because of an insipid 90 minutes against Roma in the Champions League. The game against the Andalusians was as far removed from that match as it’s possible to be.
Indeed, it’s not unfair to suggest that the fare on offer matched, or perhaps even exceeded anything that Pep Guardiola’s Barca managed.
Lionel Messi was at his impish best, his pass for Luis Suarez’s second and Barca’s third, simply stunning. Ditto Jasper Cillesen’s to feet, for Philippe Coutinho to set up the Uruguayan to open the floodgates.
Steven Nzonzi rarely looked a threat from midfield, testament to how much more solid Barcelona look as a unit when Sergio Busquets is in situ. As ever, he went about his work quietly and with aplomb, allowing the Blaugrana to build wave after wave of attacks.
One has to look at Vincenzo Montella’s team selection for Sevilla too. Lauded after their win over Manchester United, they’ve not managed another victory since. Wissam Ben Yedder, their hero at Old Trafford and the best striker at the club, was again left on the bench and didn’t play a single minute.
The final also represented the seventh occasion in 2017/18 when Sevilla have shipped four goals or more, but rarely can they have been so comprehensively put to the sword.
It’s no wonder that as the team approached their fans after full time, that they were booed and whistled. Supporters that had travelled in their thousands and who were a credit to their club, didn’t deserve such an annihilation.
For them, there’ll only be questions, but for Barca, they now look well set to complete an unbeaten league season.
Real Madrid will have something to at about that of course, but woe betide Zidane’s men if they happen to meet a Blaugrana side that are in the mood once more.
A 30th Copa only extends their record as King’s of the King’s Cup, and their fourth in succession is also another milestone to add to the many that have been broken in the last decade.
Beat Depor next weekend, and they’ll become La Liga champions for the seventh time in 10 years.
It would be the most fitting of coronations for Iniesta before his sojourn to pastures new.
