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Home > Sports News > Football News > Article > Copa del rey Aftermath A special moment

Copa del rey Aftermath: 'A special moment'

Updated on: 10 February,2018 10:58 AM IST  |  Barcelona
PA Sport |

New signing Coutinho thrilled to score first Barcelona goal as defending champions beat Valencia 2-0 to storm into final where they play Sevilla

Copa del rey Aftermath: 'A special moment'

Barcelona
Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho celebrates his goal against Valencia during the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on Thursday. Pic/AFP


Philippe Coutinho savoured a special moment after his first goal for Barcelona helped them reach their fifth consecutive Copa del Rey final. Early goal Coutinho opened the scoring in a 2-0 win at Valencia that sent Barcelona through 3-0 on aggregate, the Brazilian netting four minutes after coming on at half-time for his fifth appearance since his £142m switch from Liverpool last month.


"For me it is my first final, so it is a very special moment," Coutinho told Spanish TV station Gol. "I am very happy. I had been searching for this goal in my first few matches. Today I got it and it helped the team get through to the final."


Coutinho's goal came when he slid to get his right leg to a cross from Luis Suarez, who also produced the assist when Ivan Rakitic struck in the 82nd minute. Barcelona will face Sevilla in the final, aiming to win the Copa del Rey for a fourth successive season and a 30th time overall. Boss Ernesto Valverde said in quotes reported on AS: "Barca are used to reaching and playing the finals. In my case, not so much. I feel very happy as it is the fifth consecutive final that the players of this team are going to play, something very complicated to repeat and repeat.

"We thought it would be very difficult and that's how it was, but we're going home with the final ticket in our pocket." When asked how Gerard Pique was after the defender came off in the final 10 minutes, Valverde said: "In the end he noticed an overload and we decided that the best thing of all is that the player rests."

'Barca were superior'
Valencia boss Marcelino said as he gave his reflections on the game: "I think they (Barcelona), in general, were superior. We had our opportunities. "I think that in the first half we deserved to go level, but we did not do it and then their goal (Coutinho's) decided the tie."

Three No. of finals Barcelona have played against Sevilla in the last 33 months
Five No. of consecutive Copa del Rey finals Barcelona have reached; first team to do so

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