As the rest withered it was Gareth Bale who bloomed late. Tidy play from Isco and Fabio Coentrao in the 85th minute released the Welshman from the traps and into a race up the touchline with Marc Bartra. The Barcelona centre-back had no intention of chasing his adversary and attempted to buffet him out of play.
No chance. Bale was too strong, too fast, too good. He turned on the afterburners and let rip up the left side of Real Madrid's attack. With the whites of Pinto's eyes now in his vision, he maintained his composure and slipped between the legs of the Barcelona goalkeeper the goal which won a 19th Copa del Rey for Real Madrid.
It's the big games by which the great players are remembered. There was widespread scepticism when Madrid parted with the best part of €100 million last summer to land the Tottenham man, and there were further question marks ahead of Wednesday's final after he failed to score in the previous two Clasicos this season.
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