Double-chasing Barcelona seek redemption

Lionel Messi cuts a dejected figure during Barcelonas Champions League semi-final defeat by Liverpool. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty

The Spanish champions can complete a second straight domestic double when they face Valencia tomorrow in the Copa del Rey final.

“It’s the last game of the season and we need to win so we can go on vacation with a better feeling than the one we had after the match against Liverpool,” Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet said. “That’s why we want to win this final.”

Barcelona have won a record 30 Copa del Rey titles, including the last four, but were eliminated from the Champions League by Liverpool after blowing a 3-0 lead from the first leg of the semi-final.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, pictured, could have a lot riding on the outcome of the game against Valencia, which will be played in Seville.

While Valverde has had an almost impeccable record in the Spanish league and the Copa del Rey since taking charge two years ago, many Barca fans now doubt he can win it all in Europe. So while another cup is almost expected by supporters, a loss to Valencia would increase the pressure on the club to consider a coaching change.

Knowing his coach is under scrutiny, Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu said yesterday that the club “completely backs Valverde”.

“We cannot knock this Copa,” Bartomeu said. “After the Copa we will able to draw conclusions on how to improve and aspire to win it  all in the coming seasons.”

Barcelona will play without striker Luis Suarez, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus injury in his right knee following the loss to Liverpool. Suarez scored 25 goals for Barcelona this season, second only to Lionel Messi and his 50 goals.

Forward Ousmane Dembele is also out with a muscle injury, while goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen will most certainly keep his starting place after the club said Marc-Andre ter Stegen has pain in his right knee and won’t be available.

Valencia have had a very strong second half of the season, surging up the league standings to finish fourth and earn a Champions League berth, and they reached the Europa League semi-finals before losing to Arsenal.

They will be seeking their eighth Copa del Rey title and first since 2008.

“[Valencia] is a very compact, solid team, with a strong defence, a talented goalkeeper, which transitions very quickly to attack with players who take advantage of open spaces,” Lenglet said. “We have to be very careful with Valencia because it is very dangerous.”

Dani Parejo will lead a Valencia attack that relies on the speed of strikers Rodrigo Moreno and Santi Mina, and forward Goncalo Guedes.

Midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia said Valencia took note of how much trouble Liverpool caused Barcelona with their aggressive pressure and relentless attacking.

“Whenever a team beats  Barca, you have to study it as an example,” Kondogbia said. “But we have to be ourselves. We have to play like we know how and try to find the points where we can do Barcelona some damage.”