The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
By the time Coutinho converted his penalty in the 69th minute, Barca were simply sharing the goals around.
For Sevilla, defeat was always the most likely scenario but this was a whitewash.
Sitting eighth in La Liga, even Europa League qualification now looks an outside bet and there may be repercussions for coach Vincenzo Montella and some of his players in the summer.
? Check out our favourite #Copa30 pics!
The match ? https://t.co/ljwcwpqTLP
The celebrations ? https://t.co/uMIEqZy8vD
?? pic.twitter.com/1oADr57n07— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 22, 2018
“Barcelona has been superior in everything, they have extra-terrestrial players,” Montella said.
“I’m very sorry for the fans who have been fantastic, sorry for the disappointments. I have seen crying in the dressing room but tomorrow, we have to work.”
Amid ongoing political unrest between Catalonia and the Spanish government, Barca fans whistled during the national anthem before kick-off, with king Felipe VI watching on.
Their jeers, however, were drowned out by the chants of Sevilla supporters.
When the first goal arrived it came from a long Cillessen punt downfield as Coutinho found himself free behind the Sevilla backline and squared for Suarez to stab home.
Iniesta hit the bar with a rasping shot from distance and soon they were two up, Jordi Alba keeping the ball alive with a backheel that Messi slammed into the roof of the net.
? #Copa30@andresiniesta8@ivanrakitic@LuisSuarez9@SergiRoberto10
? All the reaction to our latest triumph! pic.twitter.com/vUksNbRR7N— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 22, 2018
Messi could have had a second were it not for an incorrect offside call and then a cynical foul by Sergio Escudero, for which he was lucky only to receive a yellow card.
Both mattered little, however, as Messi set Suarez free in the 41st minute, and the Uruguayan slid a third under David Soria.
It was another one-two, with Messi again the pivot, that released Iniesta in the second half as the midfielder’s dummy-shot left Soria scrambling and an open net for the midfielder to finish into.
Resigned to their fate, Sevilla’s fans sang to the end, even as Coutinho despatched a penalty to make it five after the ball had struck Clement Lenglet on the arm.
All that was left was for Iniesta’s substitution to be given a standing ovation before the captain hoisted the trophy, perhaps for the final time.
