Match Report: Barcelona 4-1 Athletic Bilbao

We’re simply overjoyed! The match was spectacular, performance was spectacular, the result was spectacular and the boys celebrating was the loveliest thing in the world to see!

What does this victory mean for Barca? Well, oh so many things. It marks the club’s twenty-fifth Copa Del Rey title… it’s our first trophy of the season, and the first trophy Barca has gotten in three years… it’s one out of three elements to secure in order for Barca to win the treble… and, it proves that even with all the absences and injuries, Barca can still be amazing.

Henry and Iniesta were both out for this one, but Bojan started in the attacking string alongside Messi and Eto’o and mannedhis position wonderfully well, scoring a goal along the way. Abidal missed the match due to suspension from a red card, but his position was well filled by Yaya, something that puts our minds at ease seeing as Abi won’t make the Champions League final, either… and Dani, Pique and Puyol played their usual defensive positions, while Busquets and Keita backed up Xavi in midfield.

We’re thrilled that Pinto started this match instead of Victor Valdes; Vic gets some rest and Pinto, some well-earned playing time. After all, it’s Pinto who got us here with his amazing performance against Mallorca in the semi and an incredible penalty save. And he was no less impressive last night!

True, we were the first to concede, and early in the match too; but before the first half was up Yaya had equalized for us, and after that things really kicked in. The second half saw three more goals scored almost right away, and directly after each other, missiles raining down on Bilbao’s net… courtesy of Messi, Bojan and Xavi. Leo Messi is the top scorer of the Copa with six goals, and Bojan follows him with five.

We’re elated that the boys did so well. Next step is claiming the League this weekend, after which we can shift all priority to the Champions League final… but ah, there’ll be time enough to speculate on that. For now, we’ll continue to revel in the loveliness of last night’s match and the beauty of seeing the boys celebrate as they did; lifting the cup, lifting Pep, the champagne spraying, the hugs and just all of it!

Side note: the eternally injured Gabi Milito was at the match, and celebrated with the boys afterwards. How adorable is that? We’re missing him—and missing his curls, as he seems to have hacked them off, has he been hanging out with Pique?—and we hope his recovery goes well!