Lionel Messi scored twice as Athletic Bilbao lost their second Copa del Rey final in a month with Barcelona cruising to a 4-0 win in Seville.
Real Sociedad beat their local rivals 1-0 in the rescheduled 2020 Copa del Rey final on April 3 to get their hands on a major trophy for the first time since 1987.
On that occasion, Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal netted the winner by sending keeper Unai Simon the wrong way from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute after strike partner Portu was fouled in the area by Athletic defender Inigo Martinez.
And further heartache came on Saturday as Ronald Koeman collected his first piece of silverware since taking charge at the Nou Camp last summer.
Barca were frustrated until the 60th minute when Antoine Griezmann turned in Frenkie de Jong’s cross before De Jong headed in himself three minutes later.
Messi then drove from his own half, exchanged twice with De Jong and found the bottom corner for Barca’s third.
Messi added his second four minutes later, sweeping in Jordi Alba’s cross.
Victory gives Barca their first trophy under manager Ronald Koeman and their first silverware since 2019.
“To win a title is important for me,” said Koeman, whose side is third in La Liga – two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.
“Despite the changes at the club and the young players, at Barca you have to always fight for trophies.
“We have the first one and now we are going to fight to the last game in La Liga.”
For Athletic it was a second Copa del Rey final defeat in two weeks after they lost to Real Sociedad in the delayed 2020 final on April 3.
