Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid: Gareth Bale scores stunning late winner to clinch Copa del Rey and win first trophy in Spain

Gareth Bale paid back all of his world-record transfer fee with one lung-busting, Spanish Cup-winning wonder goal. 

It was his 20th for Real Madrid, his first against Barcelona. The match had been dubbed the game of his life and he produced the goal of his career to settle it.
There were shades of ‘Taxi for Maicon’ when he picked the ball up on the halfway line and steamed down the left. Bartra barged him off the field but he still went past the young defender, cut into the area and shot past Jose Pinto.

Magical: Bale jumps in the air as he celebrates his late winner at a packed Mestalla stadium in Valencia

Roar of delight: Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring a late winner for Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final

Stunner: Bale caps a sensational run by slotting the ball through the legs of Barca keeper Jose Manuel Pinto

Dejection: Neymar (left) and Lionel Messi console each other after Barcelona suffer defeat

Presentation: Real Madrid's Iker Casillas holds the trophy aloft after winning the Copa del Rey final

Group photo: Real Madrid players pose together after the final as the celebrations begin

Silverware: Bale (left) and Luka Modric celebrate with the Copa del Rey trophy

MATCH FACTS

Barcelona: Pinto, Bartra (Alexis 86), Alba (Adriano 46), Alves, Fabregas (Pedro 60), Xavi, Iniesta, Mascherano, Busquets, Messi, Neymar
Subs not used: Oier, Puyol, Song, Roberto
Goal: Bartra 68

Bookings: Neymar, Mascherano
Real Madrid: Casillas, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao, Carvajal, Bale, Alonso, Modric, Di Maria (Illarramendi 86), Isco (Casemiro 88), Benzema (Varane 90)
Subs not used: Diego Lopez, Fernandez, Morata, Jose
Goals: Di Maria 11, Bale 85
Bookings: Pepe, Isco, Alonso

The Madrid bench erupted with substitutes and technical staff on the pitch and the white half of Valencia’s Mestalla stadium got to their feet with the game all but won.
There was still time for Neymar’s shot to hit a post at the other end and roll back into Iker Casillas’s arms but it was Madrid and Bale’s night. He had won the battle of last summer’s big signings and his first trophy in Spain.
At the final whistle injured  Cristiano Ronaldo and Real’s  sporting director Zinedine Zidane ran on to the pitch to embrace the Welshman. It was a goal of which they would both have been proud.
Real Madrid director and former Spanish Cup winner Emilio Butragueno said: ‘He ran 50 metres with a power that was frightening.’
The trophy could be the first of three for Bale this season with Real Madrid in the hunt for the Champions League and La Liga.
Bale started strongly, as did Madrid. He was released by Isco and sent an angled shot just wide.

Nutmeg: Pinto cannot prevent Bale from scoring a sensational late winner for Real Madrid

Delight: Bale wheels away in celebration as a dejected Javier Mascherano and Adriano look on

Hugs: Bale is congratulated by Real Madrid team-mate Xabi Alonso after scoring the winner

No stopping: Di Maria scores the opening goal after 10 minutes as Jordi Alba fails to intercept

Thumb on: Real Madrid's Argentinian midfielder Angel di Maria celebrates after scoring the opening goal

Rising high: Barcelona defender Marc Bartra guides his header into the net for the equaliser

Get in: Bartra celebrates after pulling Barcelona level with Real Madrid in the 68th minute

Iniesta carried the greatest threat for Barcelona going down under Daniel Carvajal’s challenge. The  22-year-old right back had got a foot to the ball and referee Antonio Lahoz ignored penalty appeals.
Bale forced a corner off Javier Mascherano when fed by Karim Benzema as Madrid pressed. His ability to take full advantage of the space left by Dani Alves was an early tactic and on 10 minutes it paid off.
Isco robbed the Brazilian high up the pitch and released Benzema. He fed Bale and the Welshman’s cross was controlled by Angel Di Maria. The Argentine looked level with the last defender, the flag stayed down, and although Pinto got a hand to his shot he failed to keep it out. Carlo Ancelotti’s team had hit their rivals where they were most vulnerable.

Well done: Bale is congratulated by Real Madrid assistant manager Zinedine Zidane (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo

The boss: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is thrown into the air by his players

Getting a piece: Ronaldo holds the trophy as he joins his team-mates on the pitch after the game

On the run: Mascherano (cenre) and Sergio Busquets (right) chase after the advancing Bale

Confrontation: Real Madrid's Portuguese defender Fabio Coentrao (right) argues with Neymar

Heated: Tempers fray as Neymar argues with Real Madrid players during the first half

Be quiet: Bartra argues with referee Mateu Lahoz (right) who makes his feelings obvious

EXCLUSIVE COACHES CLUB

Carlo Ancelotti joins Jose Mourinho as coaches that have won the FA Cup, the Coppa Italia and the Copa del Rey.

Having taken the lead, Real retreated and Barca took the initiative. Bale did go on another run across the face of the goal but this time pulled the ball back to Di Maria and the move was snuffed out.
For Barcelona, Iniesta threaded a pass through to Cesc Fabregas but the former Arsenal player overhit his pass and nobody reached it.
Iniesta’s magic apart, Barcelona were hitting too many long balls and Leo Messi was struggling to get involved. Barcelona dominated possession but their passes went in straight lines, not the defence-unlocking diagonals of old.

Challenge: Bale looks to tackle Messi (right) as the Barcelona forward dribbles with the ball

Up and over: Messi hits a free kick towards goal over the Real Madrid wall but is unsuccessful

Give me that: Messi tries to grab the ball as Luka Modric catches it above his head

Campeones: Real Madrid supporters celebrate as their team wins the Copa del Rey at the Mestalla stadium

Missing out: Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Marcelo watch from the stands as their team wins

Watching on: Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino on the touchline as Xavi advances with the ball

Full house: The Mestalla is packed as Barcelona fans cheer on their team during the warm-up

Worst of all for Barcelona, Neymar showboated down the right when most fans feel he should play left. The pattern of the second half  followed the first, with Barcelona camping in greater numbers in Madrid’s area. But with Isco always ready to steal possession and Bale, Benzema and Di Maria quicker out of the blocks on the break, a second goal from Madrid looked likely.
Bale saw his headed goal at the back post ruled out for a foul on the keeper. The decision looked harsh and from Barca’s next attack they won a corner which Xavi planted on Bartra’s head. He powered it between Casillas and his left-hand post — the most un-Barca of goals.
But Bale’s searing run delivered the eye-popping winner.