Home Messi magic takes Barca Copa del Rey final

Messi magic takes Barca Copa del Rey final

Sports Desk:Barcelona coach Luis Enrique admitted missed chances leave his side with still some work to do to reach a fourth consecutive Copa del Rey final despite taking a 2-1 semi-final, first leg lead over Atletico Madrid.

Sensational strikes from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi had Barca cruising at half-time at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday.

However, Antoine Griezmann pulled a goal back for an inspired Atletico after the break before Neymar blasted over a huge chance to restore Barca�s two-goal lead.

�If we had been more efficient with the quality we have in this team, we could have taken our chances better and had a different second leg,� said Enrique.

Barca will also be without Neymar for the return leg on Tuesday as he picked up his third yellow card in the Cup this season late on.

�We knew we had to score here,� said Suarez.

�That was important and we got two, but it is not at all over.�

It was a tale of two halves as Barca dominated in the first 45 minutes with Suarez�s sensational solo run and finish after seven minutes added to by Messi�s thunderous 20-yard strike.

�I think we started the tie very well, knowing how difficult it is to play here at the Calderon,� added Enrique.

�We made sure they couldn�t create any attacks, we kept the ball in their half, created a lot of chances and were very efficient.

�In the second-half, given the result, Atletico had to attack. They pressed us much more and caused a lot more problems.

�But it would be naive or ridiculous to think you can come here and not suffer.�

Big game Messi

Messi was once again a class apart as he constantly pulled the Atletico defence apart on top of firing home his 30th goal in 29 games this season.

�The big games are when you see the best Leo Messi,� added Enrique.

�He showed us his full repetoire. His dribbling, generating superiority in midfield, giving assists and scoring goals. There are few new superlatives for Messi.�

Four previous two-legged ties between these sides over the past three seasons had been split two apiece.

And Atletico looked far more like the side that Diego Simeone has made a serial contender for trophies over the past five years after the introduction of Fernando Torres at half-time.

�We spoke at half-time and I think in the second-half we got close to the team we have always been,� said Simeone.

�I am left with that positive feeling. We were close to a draw, we fronted up against all the difficulties we faced in the first-half.�

However, for all his achievements, Simeone is yet to win at the Camp Nou as Atletico boss and is aware the odds are very much against Los Rojiblancos reaching the final.

�I don�t know what percentage chance we have,� he added.

�Even if it is 20 per cent, we will give everything we have to make that 20 per cent count.�

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