By Daily Sports on May 26, 2019
Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo scored as a valiant Valencia beat La Liga champions Barcelona to win the Copa del Rey.
Ernesto Valverde’s men said in the build-up that a win would help ease some of the pain of the Champions League loss to Liverpool, but they were sub-par again, in the Seville heat.
French forward Gameiro fired in a superb strike to give Valencia the lead before Rodrigo headed in the second.
Lionel Messi’s 73rd-minute strike gave Barca hope but they fell short.
After the match, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu backed Valverde to continue at the Nou Camp.
“I’ve always said that Ernesto has a contract for the next season, he’s the coach,” he said.
“I do not think this defeat is the coach’s fault.”
Valverde said: “When a coach loses you want to go again, to fight to overcome the next challenge. I know losing for this club is hard.”
Temperatures reached north of 30C inside Real Betis’ packed Estadio Benito Villamarin, but only one side wilted.
Victory meant coach Marcelino Garcia Toral ended a personal 20-game winless run in all competitions against Barcelona. (BBC)
•Photo shows Valencia players celebrating their victory over Barcelona on Saturday
Source Daily Sports
Posted May 26, 2019
You may also like...
Chelsea Set For Bournemouth Clash
Adamawa United Chairman Blasts NPFL Restart Amid Virus...
Atalanta Stun Juventus In Seria A
How Nigeria Can Develop Its Sports Facilities, Use...
Arsenal Eye Nottingham Forest Loan Star Djed Spence...
Aruna leads Nigerian contingent to World Championships
Ajibade’s PSG suffer nine-point deduction
Ondo State hosts Business Network golf tourney
Retaining WAFCON trophy difficult but possible – Nnadozie
NBF trials for C’wealth Games begin March 1
Adeshina joins Bowerman watch list
Enyimba management faces probe over $1m CAF money
Anambra Police Set For Medal Haul At All Police Games In Asaba
Rivers name seven-man LOC for 2026 NDG
Edo okays two-week closed camping ahead of Niger Delta Games
SWAN wants Olympic Stadium, Sports Sector Rejig In Anambra
Ademola Lookman Becomes Nigeria’s Second-Most Expensive Player After Move to Atletico Madrid
Silva hails Chukwueze progress
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,533 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,838 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,738 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,391 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,311 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,221 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,094 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,642 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,816 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,342 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,735 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,199 views)