Date: March 3, 2005Competition: Copa del Rey – Semi-Final, Second LegFixture: Real Betis vs. FC BarcelonaVenue: Estadio Benito Villamarín, SevilleAttendance: 54,000Weather: Light rain, 11°CKickoff: 9:00 PM
The Estadio Benito Villamarín trembled before the match had even begun.
Green and white flags waved violently in the stands. The drums pounded. The crowd didn't want to witness a comeback — they wanted to force one.
Barcelona stepped onto the pitch with a 3–1 aggregate lead, but the air smelled of resistance.
The Betis players were snarling. Focused. Hungry.
And as the teams lined up, the fans began a chant directed squarely at one boy:
"¡Nadie escapa de Sevilla, chiquito!"
Nobody escapes Seville, little boy.
First Half – Opening Pressure
Minute 4
Betis pushed high. Their press was suffocating. Xavi and Deco barely touched the ball.
Messi, positioned wide right, didn't see much of it early on — but when he did, they swarmed him.
Two, sometimes three defenders, closing every inch.
Minute 9
A lofted ball from Oleguer sent him down the right. Messi took it on the run, beat the first man with a feint, and sent in a low cross.
Just missed Eto'o's boot.
Close. But not enough.
Minute 14: The Strike
Betis struck first.
A turnover in midfield. Fast switch to the right wing. Their striker surged into the box and hammered it past Valdés.
GOAL. Betis 1–0 (aggregate 3–2).
The stadium shook.
Now it was a match.
Minute 23: Messi Responds
Barcelona regained their shape. Iniesta and Xavi began to control tempo.
Then, Deco found Messi near the halfway line.
He turned, accelerated into space, then sliced between two defenders with one subtle touch.
He reached the box and unleashed a shot — low, curling toward the far post.
Saved.
But it was coming. The silence from the Betis fans said so.
Minute 37: The Leveler
This time, Messi drifted inside, unnoticed.
He received the ball from Sylvinho, played a quick one-two with Deco, and threaded a ball between two defenders into Eto'o's feet.
Eto'o, on the turn, slotted it home.
GOAL. 1–1 (aggregate 4–2). Assist: Messi.
The away section erupted.
Messi didn't celebrate loudly. He just turned toward the Betis fans who'd mocked him — and pointed at the pitch, as if to say: talk to the grass, not to me.
Halftime – In the Tunnel
The Betis captain shoved Messi slightly as they walked in.
"You think you're something special?"
Messi just looked at him and said quietly:
"Ask the scoreboard."
Second Half – Rain Begins to Fall
The drizzle became steady. The ball moved faster. So did Messi.
Minute 52
A chipped ball from Marquez found Messi behind the full-back. He brought it down mid-stride and surged into the box.
Shoulder to shoulder with a defender, he held his balance, then poked it past the keeper with his left.
GOAL. 2–1 Barcelona (aggregate 5–2).
Messi's first Copa del Rey goal.
He slid across the wet grass on his knees, arms wide.
A soaked, fiery celebration. This was his semifinal now.
Minute 66
Betis didn't give up. They threw bodies forward.
Messi tracked back, helped win possession, and started a counter from deep in his own half.
Three touches later, he was sprinting down the right.
He squared it to Iniesta — who scored from the edge of the box.
GOAL. 3–1 (aggregate 6–2). Another assist for Messi.
Final Whistle
Full-Time: Real Betis 1–3 BarcelonaAggregate: Barcelona win 6–2Goals: Betis (14'), Eto'o (37'), Messi (52'), Iniesta (66')Assists: Messi (2), Deco (1)
Barcelona were through to the Copa del Rey Final.
And Messi?
Man of the Match. Again.
Post-Match Interview (TV3 Catalunya)
Reporter: "Another goal, another final. How does it feel?"
Messi:
"Like I need to go train again tomorrow."
Reporter: "That makes three goals and four assists in two Copa matches. Are you the new star of Barcelona?"
Messi:
"There's only one star. He's recovering. I'm just helping."
Notebook Entry – March 3, 2005
Anto,It rained tonight. But I didn't notice it until I scored.They chanted at me, cursed me, kicked me. But the ball stayed kind.I scored. I passed. We're in the final.When I touched the wet grass after the goal, it felt like Rosario again.It always will.— Leo
Lionel Messi – Updated Stats (as of March 3, 2005)
Season (Club):
Matches: 31
Goals: 20
Assists: 22
Free Kick Goals: 1 (match), 7 (training)
Dribbles Completed: 154
Fouls Suffered: 73
Recent Match Impact:
1 Goal
2 Assists
5 Key Passes
6 Successful Dribbles
3 Fouls Drawn
Total Career Stats (Club + Country)
Total Matches: 31
Total Goals: 20
Total Assists: 22
Dribbles Completed: 154
National Team Matches: 0
National Team Goals/Assists: 0 / 0
World Football News – March 3 Updates
Premier League: Rooney scores late equalizer vs. Chelsea. Title race remains alive.
Ligue 1: Lyon extend lead with Juninho scoring another free kick masterpiece.
Serie A: Milan scouts reportedly tracking a young Argentine winger — Ángel Di María.
South America: River Plate's 17-year-old prospect Gonzalo Higuaín scores twice in Copa Libertadores opener.