Barcelona march on to the Copa del Rey final against Sevilla with a 2-0 win over Valencia on Thursday evening, a game in which Phillipe Coutinho scored his first goal for his side.
The Catalans didn't have it all their own way in the first half, and the home side looked the most likely to score early on.
A shot from Francis Coquelin was an early signal of intent from Los Che. Marcelino's set up to counter Barca and should have of perhaps taken an early lead in the 13th minute.
José Luis Gayà clipped in a cross for Rodrigo, his header was timed however it crashed against the woodwork.
Barcelona weathered the storm and created only one real chance of note in the first 45, Leo Messi saw his curling effort skim just wide.
The first half ended in a 0-0 stalemate. The introduction of Phillipe Coutinho at half-time was pivotal for Ernesto Valverde's team. Minutes after the restart, the record signing from Liverpool bagged his first goal for the Catalans.
A well-placed cross from Luis Suarez found a stretching Coutinho who knocked the ball into the opposite corner on the volley to wrong-foot keeper Jaume. A memorable first goal for the Brazillian international.
Valencia needed three goals to have any chance of progressing, and should of scored had Cillessen not pulled off a spectacular point-blank save to deny Gaya.
With Valencia pushing numbers forward, Luis Suarez stole the ball off defender Gabriel, and squared the ball to Rakitić. The Croatian international made no mistake drilling the ball into the bottom corner, sealing a record fifth consecutive Copa del Rey final. As for Valencia, they slumped to their sixth consecutive defeat.
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