Barça deliver maiden Guardiola triumph

Barça deliver maiden Guardiola triumph

Josep Guardiola celebrated his first title as FC Barcelona coach with victory against Athletic Club Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final, the UEFA Champions League finalists coming from a goal down to win 4-1 at Mestalla.
Early lead

Athletic won their last piece of silverware by beating Barça 1-0 in the King's Cup 25 years ago and their supporters were dreaming of a similar outcome when Gaizka Toquero rose at the far post to head Francisco Yeste's corner past José Pinto eight minutes in. Soon after, Bojan Krkić advanced into the Athletic penalty area and shot straight at Gorka Iraizoz, the first of two saves in quick succession from the goalkeeper, who also beat out an effort from Samuel Eto'o.
Touré leveller

Chosen as a makeshift defender for Barcelona's recent UEFA Champions League semi-final against Chelsea FC, Yaya Touré was again fielded in defence and it was the Ivorian who equalised when he dribbled his way forward before firing a long-range shot in at the near post after half an hour.
Game over

The second half began with Lionel Messi looking to find his range with two efforts on the Athletic goal and ten minutes in, his third attempt found the back of the net after Iraizoz had palmed Eto'o's effort into the path of the Argentinian. Just three minutes later it was 3-1 with Bojan finishing off a counterattack by calmly sliding the ball in from just inside the area. The Liga leaders' 25th Copa del Rey triumph − and first for eleven years − was rubber-stamped when Xavi Hernández fired a free-kick in off the upright after 65 minutes.
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