Villarreal v Barcelona

1. First leg: Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal
2. Neymar double and Suarez put Barca into final
3. Pina sent off for Villarreal
4. Winners meet Espanyol or Athletic Bilbao
5. GET INVOLVED: What is your perfect European football moment?

Goodnight

And so we know Barcelona will be playing on 30 May. We will be live-texting that final as you'd probably expect.

Where they play is still unknown and who they play will be known in around 90 minutes.

Barca clinical tonight. Not jaw-droppingly good as we know they can be but efficient and the only likely winners when they were faced with 10 men.

Keep your eyes on the BBC's European football index for the latest on Espanyol v Athletic Bilbao but for now, I will bid you goodnight.

You may have noticed there is Premier League action underway. Follow it all in our live text.

Sergio's butterfingers

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The Copa del Rey is Spain's oldest football competition. Started in 1903, it pre-dates the Spanish league by a quarter of a century.

The trophy - which weighs roughly 33lbs - was re-made in 2011 after Sevilla requested to keep the one they lifted in 2010 to commemorate the year in which Spain claimed the World Cup.

Real Madrid won the new trophy and Sergio Ramos duly dropped it off the roof of their parade bus. Reports of it breaking into 10 pieces swiftly emerged.

Is it heading for the Nou Camp trophy cabinet for the 27th time?

FULL-TIME

No need for injury time here. This one is done and dusted. There was a game on until Tomas Pina saw red for his second very bad tackle of the night. From there Barca took control and Luis Suarez and Neymar struck to seal a 6-2 aggregate win.

They will meet Espanyol or Athletic Bilbao in the final. Kick-off in their second-leg - which is level at 1-1 - is in 15 minutes.

GOAL

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Villarreal manager Marcelino is clapping Barcelona's third of the night. Patient build-up (what else) is capped by Neymar.

He lurks 12 yards from goal between defenders and when Xavi picks the ball up on the angle of the area, Neymar points where to put it. Xavi can put the ball on a piece of dust so he picks out the cross and the Brazilian cannot miss. His header leaves Asenjo helpless.

Incredibly, and I don't use that word lightly, Sergio Busquets is sat on the bench and has a cheerful smile on his face. That is not the look of a man who has just had his ankle broken.

If he is fit and healthy to play football any time soon after being brutally tackled in the lead up to Villarreal's goal then it borders on miracle.

Hs ankle was fully bent under challenge from Tomas Pina, who has since been sent off.

Boxing at Spain's basketball

And speaking of brawlers...

I can hype the drama, build-up anticipation and hopefully keep you interested, but ladies and gents, I cannot promise this sort of boxing meets ball sport action ...

BBC

Please click this link to see what happens when Basketball in Spain gets heated. This week's meeting of Saski-Baskonia v Bilbao Basket. The latter won but the brawl will be what is remembered.

Missing Manuel?

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Does anybody else miss Jose Manuel Pinto?

This guy was capable of brilliant stuff between the sticks and he always, always showed his face at the sight of any brawl or coming together.

It would appear he is now, at the age of 39, without a club after leaving Barca last summer. I think he should become a bull fighter. I'd fancy his chances.

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YELLOW CARD

Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell gets a yellow for a tackle from behind on Andres Iniesta. A few of those on the benches are a bit riled by it. Which brings me on to a man I'm sure we all miss...

Luciano Vietto has a real baby face. He makes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer look ancient.

The youngster looks deflated though as he sets to pull the trigger from 10 yards but Jeremy Mathieu is just able to flick the ball away from danger with a timely header.

The run goes on

Number 18 on the way...

BBC

Your Barcelona lesson...

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"I've walked Las Ramblas, but not with real intent", sang the Manic Street Preachers in their 1998 hit 'If you tolerate this Your Children will be next'.

The song's theme is the Spanish civil war, but thesedays, walk Las Ramblas - a famous street in the heart of Barcelona - and you'll find shops, performers (including one doing football tricks) and eateries.

It measures around 0.75 miles and when Barcelona win meaningful silverware (or beat Real Madrid), it becomes a hub of celebration.

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SUBSTITUTION

Javier Mascherano is a booking away from missing the final so he gets the hook and Ivan Rakitic is on. We will be seeing plenty of Mascherano going forward as Sergio Busquets will surely be ruled out for the long term.

GOAL

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South Americans combine and Barcelona are heading into the Copa del Rey final. Javier Mascherano, from a deep area, floats a ball over Villarreal's back line and Luis Suarez has a wrestling match to get beyond the last man, out comes the goalkeeper, around him Suarez goes. The yellow net ripples and that will be that.

AP

GREAT SAVE!

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Neymar to seal it...he's run from the halfway line...saved well by Sergio Asenjo.

These counter-attack chances are going to arrive thick and fast now and he looked hungry there, ignoring support from two Barca players.

The other semi-final

Athletic Bilbao have not won a major tournament since success in the Copa del Rey back in 1984. Espanyol are nine years without major silverware.

So much is on the line when the sides meet - poised at 1-1 from the first-leg- at 21:00 GMT and it is without doubt the biggest game Espanyol's Estadi Cornella-El Prat has housed since it opened five years ago.

The pair sit mid-table in La Liga, so defeat would virtually mean the end of the season for both and an early trip - mentally at least - on summer holiday.

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CLOSE!

Luis Suarez with an angled run in the box and Andres Iniesta puts the sat nav on to locate the move. A sliding pass reaches Suarez but he cannot quite flick the ball home from six yards as bodies squeezed him out.

This one all over? TomasPina has ruined our fun...

RED CARD

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The midfielder has been physical and aggressive in the tackle all night - just ask the stretchered Sergio Busquets.

This time a red card comes out of the pocket and with it, surely hopes of a final appearance are extinguished.

Pina lunged in on Neymar with a tackle from behind. Not only did he dive, it was down the back of Neymar's legs so he had no way of hurdling it.

SUBSTITUTION

Xavi in for Rafinha. It must be tough to see this symbol of Spanish football comnig on when you are chasing a game. Good luck getting the ball of him as the clock ticks down. He can play in a phone box.

SUBSTITUTION

Luciano Vietto is busy but raw for Villarreal. His eagerness has got him goals this season without a doubt but he sometimes wants to beat people when better options exists. This time he is held up down the right flank.

Manu Trigueros with a bang from range is well wide and that allows time for some changes. Giovani dos Santos on for Ikechukwu Uche. Xavi is warming up for Barca and will be on momentarily.

GREAT SAVE!

Barcelona are that boxer who knows they are in trouble but is doing just enough to bounce and avoid serious trauma.

The left-flank, AGAIN, is Villarreal's probing point and a pull-back evades everyone but when the ball is recycled and put back into the mixer, Cheryshev is lurking at the back post to drill a volley across goal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen does well to hold it.

A New Zealand rugby charge would be happy with that handling.

Who or what is Villarreal

Now we all know who Villarreal are. Champions League semi-finalists in 2006. La Liga runners-up in 2008. A former home for Manuel Pellegrini, Giuseppe Rossi and Marcos Senna.

But where is this place? It's actually on Spain's east coast and just a short car journey north of Valencia.

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Only around 50,000 people live in the small city and it's trade is built on the production of ceramic tiles. It is home to four companies listed in Spain's top 500 businesses and all of them are in the ceramic tile trade.

Probably a good few discounts there if you're doing up the bathroom...

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CLOSE!

Messi ducks, weaves, dodges from the right flank. We all know he wants shooting space. He does what he wants. It's a swerver from 20 yards well fielded by Sergio Asenjo.

CLOSE!

With every minute that ticks by, Barcelona will suck the life out of this bright Villarreal side.

The home side believe and Denis Cheryshev has been so impressive. He races to pluck a throw from the Barcelona goalkeeper out of the air, what a lovely blend of work ethic and delicate touch he showed there.

There is still much to be decided here and Mario Gaspar swings in from the right but Mateo Musacchio's volley is tame. It tells you a lot though that their defender is in the box like that. Belief.

Recapturing momentum?

Reuters

Villarreal went 18 games unbeaten between November and February. Marcelino's side had a small wobble but are now back on a run of four games without loss.

Their leading goalscorer Luciano Vietto has 11 goals in 23 league appearances.

Ouch - Luciano Vietto is nailed by Gerard Pique. That's a booking.

CLOSE!

Villarreal work the ball down the left flank - their area of major threat tonight - and Luciano Vietto is underneath a cross 10 yards out.

Big chance... he leaps like Michael Jordan... over the bar.

Vietto is the club's top scorer and linked with moves to England this week. Liverpool his apparent destination if you take tabloid talk as golden.

KICK-OFF

Intent. Villarreal down the right side work crossing space but goalscorer Jonathan Dos Santos can only find the hands of the goalkeeper.

They press again and win a throw high up the pitch. What do Barca do here? Conserve energy or try to settle this?

GET INVOLVED

After Luis Enrique told us his Barcelona side were in a 'perfect moment' yesterday, we want to know what is your perfect European football moment?

Steps: Gotta be Celtic in 67 1st British & non Latin team to win trophy all born within 30 miles of Glasgow canna beat it.

Tweet us on #bbceurofooty.

Elsewhere in Spain

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Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has told the club he will sign a new contract if they recruit Edinson Cavani this summer, according to French paper L'Equipe.

The Paris St-Germain striker is his number one target according to the report, which says the pair have already discussed the potential move on the phone.

Cavani is the most expensive player in French history, so his move could see Mario Mandzukic sold in order to generate sufficient buying power.

Spanish football writer Andy West sums up a half of three key moments...

Andy West

Anyone fancy extra time?

The first-half stats show us Barcelona have had more ball but Villarreal have been more effective with it, creating more chances.

BBC

The left-flank has been a source of joy for Villarreal and they have plenty out there intent on being handfuls. Notably Denis Cheryshev and Tomas Pina.

HALF-TIME

A great half of football. The ethos of both sides is pure. Pass it, move and attack with vigour. Barcelona must have thought the game was up with Neymar's early goal but we have a crucial 20 minute spell to come after the break as Jonathan Dos Santos has changed the mood significantly.

Villarreal would have surely taken this. The fight lives on for a first final appearance in their history.

Marcelino will be thrilled to get them in at the break with some hope. Barca's players will enter a changing room to the sight of Sergio Busquets getting treatment. How much has that goal changed things?

SUBSTITUTION

Sergio Busquets is carried down the tunnel and Jeremy Mathieu is brought on. This will prompt a re-shuffle. The big Frenchman will drop in at centre-back and Javier Mascherano will move into midfield.

We will bring you the latest on Sergio Busquets but that looked bad enough to be long term.

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Ouch

Sergio Busquets is on the turf in serious pain. In the build-up to the goal he was caught by a follow through by Pina and all of the midfielder's weight went through Busquets's ankle. This could be a broken ankle. Busquets will be going off. A horrible sight. The replays take your breath away.

GOAL

Have Villarreal worked on attacking Barcelona's right side? Tomas Pina, into the feet of Denis Cheryshev who is holding it up and feeds Jaume Costa down the left, here comes the cross...GOALLLL. Jonathan Dos Santos arriving bang on the money at the back post side foots a volley in.

Well taken, his run was perfectly picked out and Costa has threatened to create from that flank throughout.

CLOSE!

Pina, to Jaume Costa, through to Cheryshev, snuffed out by Barca's back line and the counter attack is deadly.

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Neymar is cutting in from the left, one on one with the final defender, he shapes in on his right foot and fires...blocked. Corner. Lionel Messi not happy a pull-back did not arrive.

YELLOW CARD

The drum beats in the crowd but this is not half as vociferous as it looked like being when the teams emerged from the tunnel. Neymar's goal was a silencer.

Jonathan Dos Santos is in the book for putting his hand on the referee. This was no Paolo Di Canio moment, just an arm on shoulder to protest.

CLOSE!

Gerard Pique is holding his groin and looks troubled and his team are too. Luciano Vietto...bang...blocked. From the loose ball a shot flies in from Mario Gaspar and deflects narrowly over with Marc-Andre ter Stegen struggling.

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Villarreal have wasted good chances so far here and been made to pay.

Enrique's need to win

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CLOSE!

You get the sense this will end up as one of two extremes. Either an unlikely fight back or an absolute trouncing.

Why? Because Villarreal have to commit and they are nearly caught out by Messi's genius again. An angled ball by the magician from around 30 yards out finds the run of Andres Iniesta in the area but his shot is blocked.

It is as if Messi is playing a computer game on times.

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GET INVOLVED

We want to know what your perfect European football moment is. It can be Champions League, foreign leagues, even local football.

Tweet us on #bbceurofooty.

Jamie Wigby CFC: Chelsea beating bayern Munich in their own back year in the champions league final 2012.

Fergie Mac: Best moment by far is John Terry Penalty Miss Champions League Final 2008.

And on Barcelona's lovely denim shirts and smart trouser combination to arrive at El Madrigal...

DRHolmes: Fashion wise Dani Alves is the Diva at Barca! followed by Neymar. The worst? MESSI. His choice of suits at Ballon d'or...yuck!

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GREAT SAVE!

Villarreal are patient and capable. Tip, tap, nudges of the ball they find one another neatly. It's patient but wait...Denis Cheryshev is in again...saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

A lovely slide into the inside-right channel and Cheryshev is in behind Barcelona's deep defence. He has a second to think from a narrow angle and decides power but it's a strong diving save.

CLOSE!

The home side have had four shots to their visitors' one and Ikechukwu Uche nearly grabs his eighth goal of the season.

Tomas Pina's reverse pass puts him in, first time hit, side netting. A good sight of goal and not far away but the target needed testing there.

Villarreal as ever are 4-4-2 and organised. Their yellow shirts shine like beacons on the lush green surface. Narrow when they lose the ball, they press well and Barcelona are not slicing through but they don't need to.

Sergio Busquets takes a whack as Barca construct possession for nearly 90 seconds.

Your quiz result...

The answer to our quiz question: Which side sit second to Barcelona's 26 Copa del Rey wins?

BBC

Next come Atletico Madrid with 10, Valencia on seven and Real Zaragoza 6.

CLOSE!

Jaume Costa down the Villarreal left is problematic for Barcelona, supporting play, he gets it and weaves onto his left peg to clip a ball.

It's good and Luciano Vietto does not have to move but neither does the Barca keeper as Villarreal's forward heads straight at him from 12 yards.

CLOSE!

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Penny for the thoughts of Marcelino. The Villarreal manager warned you have to be clever against this Barcelona side but his side were tempted in early doors and Messi's divine touch carved them up. Neymar is nearly in again on the end of a lobbed pass but Sergio Asenjo is off his line like Usain Bolt from the blocks and collects.

Denis the menace

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Cristiano Ronaldo has 13 La Liga assists this season, Lionel Messi 10, but who do you think comes in third?

Real Madrid's Isco? No. Luis Suarez? No. Gareth Bale surely? No.

Meet Villarreal's Denis Cheryshev. He has created nine of his side's 38 league goals. Cheryshev is on loan from Real Madrid.

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CLOSE!

Denis Chryshev must be...no. Over the bar.

A corner kick is flicked delicately by Luicano Vietto and Cheryshev is four yards out at an angle. He smashes through it, a sledgehammer right foot, and that one is troubling the fireworks we saw earlier. Way over.

GOAL

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Jackpot.

Home atmosphere, a side hunting you down and bang, a goal with the first attack to settle nerves. It's the ruthless mark of greatness and a goal which lives up to the quality of such a side.

Luis Suarez is released down the left and bangs a ball across field to Lionel Messi. His cross is sublime. It is a dinked flick over the Villarreal defence with just enough pace to tempt the goalkeeper out. He's beaten to it by Neymar, 1-0.

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CLOSE!

Villarreal, pushed forward with a surge of noise from their home fans, have an early jab at Barca through Denis Cheryshev. He is on the end of Jaume Costa's cross to head wide from 12 yards.

KICK-OFF

Here we go then. Any chance of serious drama or will the Barcelona juggernaut crush this one early?

Possession football at the back early doors, feel one another out. Mascherano slides a pass along the back line and gets it back under no pressure.

Noise, fireworks and lots of yellow

Some noise at El Madrigal as the players leave the tunnel. Some fans wave yellow balloons and it seems someone outside the stadium has some stock left from early November as fireworks (albeit just a few) hit the sky.

There is a sense of expectancy here from home fans. Remember they have waited a long time for an occasion like this and have never played in a major final.

All in yellow as you'd expect, Barca in a pink/peach number.

A big night in Spain

'APPOINTMENT WITH THE KING', reads Marca's lead page today.

The Copa del Rey - King's Cup - could have a new winner if Villarreal can beat Barca and win in the final against either Espanyol or Athletic Bilbao.

Here is a quiz question for you: Barcelona have won the Copa del Rey 26 times, but who is second on the list of most wins?

Answer shortly.

Marca

Villarreal's first-leg hope

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Any second-leg which arrives with Barcelona three goals to the good may look a dead rubber on paper, so did the momentum change in this tie late in the first meeting?

Neymar saw a late penalty saved by Sergio Asenjo which prevented a 4-1 lead at the Nou Camp and as Spanish football enthusiasts saw on Sunday, Villarreal are capable of mixing it with the big boys.

They fought back to draw at Real Madrid - Asenjo was superb again - and they had the cheek to rest several players at the Bernabeu too, hence the nine changes tonight.

Dedicated followers of fashion

They seek him here, they seek him there,

His clothes are loud, but never square.

It will make or break him so he's got to buy the best,

'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.

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Some lyrics from the Kinks there and their 1966 track - 'Dedicated Follower of Fashion.'

Barcelona must have it playing on the team bus because theri players are decked in denim shirts and smart blue pants. I think they even have matching black leather trainers. Each player seems to add his own touch, - a peak-cap here, some sunglasses there.

They look slick though. Send me your thoughts on #bbceurofooty.

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GET INVOLVED

McCutcheon sang about a perfect moment, Enrique says Barca are enjoying one, but what is your perfect European football moment?

David Beckham winning La Liga? Roberto Di Matteo answering Roman Abramovich's plea for a Champions League?

Tweet us on #bbceurofooty or comment on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

ALAMY

Team news

Read it and weep. The teamsheet that is.

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all start for Barcelona, who welcome back Sergio Busquets after he misses Saturday's Granada win.

Villarreal are, as expected, much changed from Sunday's draw at Real Madrid. Nine changes in all. Top scorer Luciano Vietto starts having been an effective substitute at the Bernabeu.

Barcelona FC

Villarreal XI: Asenjo, Mario, Musacchio, V.Ruiz, J.Costa, J.Dos Santos, Pina , Trigueros, Cheryshev, Vietto, Uche.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Montoya, Piqué, Sergio, Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, Neymar, Rafinha, Mascherano, Alba.

Barca clearing hurdles

'FINAL STRETCH' reads the front page of Spanish sports paper Mundo Deportivo.

The brilliant image of Lionel Messi negotiating hurdles provides an idea... maybe the striker should have to negotiate such objects as well as defenders in order to level the playing field.

Mundo Deportivo

Remember, questions were asked of Barca boss Luis Enrique earlier in the season. The treble is still on.

You cannot beat Barca with heart...

Empics

As Moises Llorens writes in Spanish paper AS today, Villarreal have not gone into a semi-final second leg with real hope of a place in a cup final in 3,235 days.

On that night in 2006, they could not overcome a one-goal deficit against Arsenal in the Champions League.

But the Yellow Submarine are on the up and despite relegation in 2012, have bounced back to sit sixth in La Liga.

Their brand of football remains quick, neat and sharp, but three defeats to Barcelona already this season mean manager Marcelino is not going to simply send his troops out all guns blazing tonight.

"You can't beat Barca with heart alone. You have to be very clever," he says. "We will try to be organised in defence and tight at the back. When we have the ball we have to be daring, precise and quick - something that is difficult."

Enrique's perfect moment

"This is the perfect moment in terms of results and form. And let's hope we can turn that form into titles."

European photopress agency

Why is Luis Enrique seemingly floating on air? Well, his side are two points behind Real Madrid in the chase for La Liga, beating Manchester City after one leg of their last-16 Champions League tie and now one leg away from a domestic cup final.

Barca have two defeats in their last 26 games and they won't be taking their foot off the gas here...

"The aim is to win the match. That way there can be no surprises," added Enrique.

"It would be huge to score a goal. We won't be holding out for a draw. We'll take the game seriously and play our usual attacking football."

Welcome

Sing along to the Martine McCutcheon classic...

This is my moment

This is my perfect moment with you

This is what God meant

This is my perfect moment with you

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Ah yes, when Martine McCutcheon was killed off in Eastenders back in 1998, like any good football club, she bounced back from despair to record a UK number one hit - Perfect Moment.

It's obviously a lyrical treat which has seeped into the mind of Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, who went big in his news conference yesterday - "This is the perfect moment", he said.

Hats off to you Martine, the lyrics live on, from Albert Square to the Nou Camp.