Xavi salutes masterful Messi

31 May 2015 02:02

Barcelona's Copa Del Rey final win may have been Xavi's last game at the Nou Camp but after the game it was Lionel Messi's wonder goal which was at the forefront of the captain's mind.

Luis Enrique's side were 3-1 winners over Athletic Bilbao as they completed a domestic double following their league triumph and once again it was the Argentinian who stole the show.

Messi, starting just inside the Athletic half near the right touchline, weaved his way past four defenders and then beat Iago Herrerin at his near post for a stunning strike in the Nou Camp clash after 20 minutes.

Neymar rounded off a neat team move to double Barcelona's advantage nine minutes before the break and Messi put the game further out of Athletic's reach by stabbing home a third goal after 74 minutes.

Twenty-year-old Inaki Williams, who had struck the bar with a volley four minutes before half-time, was rewarded for his endeavour with a consolation cup final goal 11 minutes from time, but that was as good as it got for the Basque o utfit.

"We have absolute confidence right now," Xavi told the club's official website before waxing lyrical about Messi's strike. "(It was) scandalous, awesome. I think it's one of the best goals he's ever scored."

Team-mate Javier Mascherano added: "Maybe that was one of Messi's best goals. Goals are also measured by the importance of the match and by the opponent. Leo worked his magic and that moved things in our favour."

After a tough start, Neymar felt that once Barcelona assumed control and went ahead through Messi's strike there was no going back for the Catalan giants.

"They pressed us really hard, and we had to suffer but we took control of the game, we started to play our game, and we ended up with the two goals [in the first half]," he said.

Source: PA