Gareth Bales scored a late goal after ghosting past Bartra in the closing stages of
the Copa Del Rey Final match to seal yet another win for Real Madrid over Barcelona
in the final of the competition.
Angel di Maria opened the scoring for Los Blancos just 11
minutes of play but Marc Bartra nodded in the equalizer for the Catalans from a
corner midway through the second half.
Just when the game seems to be winding down, Bale took it
upon himself to deliver dividends of the huge money paid for his services by
poking the ball home from close range after a sensational surge down the left
wing beating Bartra.
Neymar looked to have draw Barcelona level for the second time, but the
Brazilian was denied by the upright as his shot clearly beat Casillas, and Madrid held on to claim a
famous win over their arch rival.
As expected, Madrid talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo who has missed the Les Blanco's last three matches in all competition was absent as he continues to battle knee and thigh problems, but Sergio Ramos recovered from a neck injury to start for Ancelotti's side.
Barcelona coach Martino had hinted that Carles Puyol could return from a knee injury in the build-up, but he left the captain on the bench, as fellow centre-back Bartra returned from a hamstring strain.
They could have done with Puyol's experience in the early stages, as Madrid made a fast start, with Bale flashing an early effort past the right-hand post.
The tension was predictably high - Isco was booked within three minutes for a challenge on Neymar - and Los Blancos continued to pour forward, with Bale's second shot in as many minutes going behind for a corner.
Di Maria, so damaging in the last meeting between the sides, then broke the deadlock in the 11th minute, finishing with aplomb following a quick counter attacking move that involved Isco, Bale and Karim Benzema.
The Argentine fired an angled left-footed effort through the legs of Jordi Alba and at Barcelona shot-stopper Pinto, who could only parry the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Barcelona's first real chance came after Pepe and Neymar had clashed, and were booked, as Alba nodded straight at Madrid's Iker Casillas, and the defender then got back to superbly block Isco's effort after Bale's clever pass and Lionel Messi shot wide from 20 yards just before the break
Adriano replaced Alba after the break to add bite to the attack but Barca were still sluggish when play resumed. Bale shot into the side netting before firing over six minutes later.
The introduction of Pedro, for Cesc Fabregas did little to stem the flow as a Benzema strike was touched onto the outside of the post by Pinto, before Bale had a goal disallowed for a foul on Pinto after the goalkeeper had charged off his line from a corner.
Pinto was ahead of play, meaning just one defender was between Bale and the goal, and less than 60 seconds later the ball was in the back of Madrid's net, with the effort counting on this occasion.
Bartra was responsible, with the young defender losing his marker, Pepe, and rising highest to head Xavi's 68th-minute corner into the net. It was a perfectly placed header.
Minutes later, Luka Modric hit the outside of the post, and the game had seemed destined for extra-time but Bale was on hand to steal the show.
Leonel Messi lost the ball in the Madrid Penalty area one which Contreao benefited from to play a pass across to Bale on the left side of the centre circle, The Welshman was initially impeded by Bartra, Bale showcased his speed to storm ahead of his marker leaving him to only watch on as he ghost into the box to poke the ball inbetween Pinto's legs for the second goal and eventual winner for his team.
There was still time however for Barca to push for a leveller, Neymar was played in as both Pepe and Carvahal allowed a loose ball to roll towards goal presenting Neymar with a glorious chance but his shot which went past outrushing Casilas came back the upright into the waiting hands of the Spanish goalkeeper.
Barcelona's latest setback means that they are now likely to finish without a major piece of silverware for the first season since 2007-08, one in which then coach Frank Rijkaard was sacked.
For Madrid, the victory marks Carlo Ancelotti's first trophy in charge of the club and he will be hoping to add to that with success in both La Liga and the Champions League.
Barcelona coach Martino had hinted that Carles Puyol could return from a knee injury in the build-up, but he left the captain on the bench, as fellow centre-back Bartra returned from a hamstring strain.
They could have done with Puyol's experience in the early stages, as Madrid made a fast start, with Bale flashing an early effort past the right-hand post.
The tension was predictably high - Isco was booked within three minutes for a challenge on Neymar - and Los Blancos continued to pour forward, with Bale's second shot in as many minutes going behind for a corner.
Di Maria, so damaging in the last meeting between the sides, then broke the deadlock in the 11th minute, finishing with aplomb following a quick counter attacking move that involved Isco, Bale and Karim Benzema.
The Argentine fired an angled left-footed effort through the legs of Jordi Alba and at Barcelona shot-stopper Pinto, who could only parry the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Barcelona's first real chance came after Pepe and Neymar had clashed, and were booked, as Alba nodded straight at Madrid's Iker Casillas, and the defender then got back to superbly block Isco's effort after Bale's clever pass and Lionel Messi shot wide from 20 yards just before the break
Adriano replaced Alba after the break to add bite to the attack but Barca were still sluggish when play resumed. Bale shot into the side netting before firing over six minutes later.
The introduction of Pedro, for Cesc Fabregas did little to stem the flow as a Benzema strike was touched onto the outside of the post by Pinto, before Bale had a goal disallowed for a foul on Pinto after the goalkeeper had charged off his line from a corner.
Pinto was ahead of play, meaning just one defender was between Bale and the goal, and less than 60 seconds later the ball was in the back of Madrid's net, with the effort counting on this occasion.
Bartra was responsible, with the young defender losing his marker, Pepe, and rising highest to head Xavi's 68th-minute corner into the net. It was a perfectly placed header.
Minutes later, Luka Modric hit the outside of the post, and the game had seemed destined for extra-time but Bale was on hand to steal the show.
Leonel Messi lost the ball in the Madrid Penalty area one which Contreao benefited from to play a pass across to Bale on the left side of the centre circle, The Welshman was initially impeded by Bartra, Bale showcased his speed to storm ahead of his marker leaving him to only watch on as he ghost into the box to poke the ball inbetween Pinto's legs for the second goal and eventual winner for his team.
There was still time however for Barca to push for a leveller, Neymar was played in as both Pepe and Carvahal allowed a loose ball to roll towards goal presenting Neymar with a glorious chance but his shot which went past outrushing Casilas came back the upright into the waiting hands of the Spanish goalkeeper.
Barcelona's latest setback means that they are now likely to finish without a major piece of silverware for the first season since 2007-08, one in which then coach Frank Rijkaard was sacked.
For Madrid, the victory marks Carlo Ancelotti's first trophy in charge of the club and he will be hoping to add to that with success in both La Liga and the Champions League.
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