VALENCIA, Spain — Barcelona rallied for a 4-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao for its record 25th Copa del Rey title on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi's 57th-minute winner came before Bojan Krkic and Xavi Hernandez sealed a well-deserved win that put the Catalans on course to become the first Spanish club to win three trophies in a season.
Barcelona's first domestic cup triumph since 1998 also snapped a three-year trophyless drought.
Gaizka Toquero headed Athletic in front after nine minutes at Mestalla Stadium before Yaya Toure equalized in the 32nd following an individual run from inside the Athletic half.
Barcelona dominated after that with Messi and Krkic scoring within two minutes and Xavi curling a free kick home in the 65th.
Athletic, which reached the final for the first time in 24 years, couldn't keep up with its Catalan rival as Barcelona showed why it is on the verge of winning the league this weekend, and will play Manchester United in the Champions League final on May 27.
Barcelona's defense was without Eric Abidal to suspension and Rafael Marquez to injury so Toure filled in at center back. The Ivory Coast midfielder single-handedly started the rally with an impressive goal where he moved around three opponents before beating Gorka Iraizoz with a stinging low shot from the edge of the area.
The momentum turned Barcelona's way from then.
Athletic had managed to suffocate Messi and the Catalans' midfield early, and open through Toquero, who headed Fran Yeste's corner past Jose Manuel Pinto at the far post.
Athletic couldn't contain Barcelona, which was without Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry to injury, with its physical play as Barcelona broke loose after Messi's sixth goal of the cup and 37th in all competitions.
The Argentina winger jumped on the rebound from Samuel Eto'o's shot inside the area and controlled to fire past the scrambling defense.
Messi then set up Krkic, who was making a rare start, two minutes later to slide a low shot past Iraizoz off the inside of the far post for his fifth cup goal.
Barcelona's Daniel Alves was hit by an object thrown from the Athletic side of the stands in the 60th, then Xavi again rewarded the delirious Barcelona fans who had made the trip down the coast by scoring from a free kick.
Since both clubs represent two of Spain's more autonomous provinces, all 45,000 spectators greeted King Juan Carlos' entrance to jeers, and whistled for the entirety of the Spanish national anthem.
The crowds didn't let up their support thereafter as Barcelona won it's first domestic cup for 11 years.
The match also marked the 25th anniversary of the two teams' last meeting in the competition, a 1-0 Athletic win marred by a mass brawl to close.