Why Kevin Gameiro vs. Gerard Pique Will Be Key Barcelona vs. Sevilla Battle

Coke took the plaudits but it was Kevin Gameiro’s second-half goal that put Sevilla in a position to win the Europa League final against Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Flying out of the blocks in the second half, with Liverpool 1-0 up, he scored in the first minute to stun the Reds, before Coke’s double sealed Sevilla’s 3-1 victory in Switzerland.

Now Gameiro is going out to do the same against Barcelona in Sunday night’s Copa del Rey final. He has 29 goals this season, more than he has netted in any other campaign.

The 29-year-old French striker has played at Strasbourg, Lorient, Paris Saint-Germain and now Sevilla, and he has never been as lethal as he is at this minute.

Unai Emery has got the best out of the striker, who will be Sevilla’s best hope of punishing Barcelona on the break.

And in the Blaugurana corner, trying to stop him will be Gerard Pique.

Barcelona’s centre-back has enjoyed a supreme season, following on from last season’s return to form under Luis Enrique.

He had lost his way a bit, but under the Asturian’s rule, Pique has returned to being one of the best defenders in the world—perhaps even the best.

Gameiro—who is extremely fast—will be doing his best to zip away from Pique, whose positioning will have to be perfect if he is to …

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