The Copa del Rey final was symbolic of the changing of the guard at Barcelona, as the cup winners begin to say farewell to Andres Iniesta, and hello to a Philippe Coutinho who is beginning to bed in to Ernesto Valverde's side.
From master to apprentice. From genius to genius. The Copa del Rey final saw Andres Iniesta give Philippe Coutinho the blueprint of what Barcelona expect from their midfielders.
That's not to say that the Brazilian had a bad game. In fact quite the opposite, Coutinho was one of Barca's best performers, however he couldn't match Iniesta, who put in a world class display in the final.
While the ex-Liverpool man impressed with his pace and decisive passing, opening up the channels during the thrashing of Sevilla, Iniesta was masterful in midfield, showing his ability to control a game without being flashy or flamboyant.
The Spanish international provided constant support for his teammates, and was at the centre of every dangerous attack from the Catalan side. Just like the wine that he wants to dedicate himself to after his retirement from football, Iniesta demonstrated how he has matured with age, putting in an experienced performance in the centre of the park.
Coutinho now knows the level he will need to reach to fill Iniesta's boots going forward. The Brazilian's display in the final had shades of Neymar, but Barca fans will hope that over the coming months and years he can transform into the new Iniesta. The Spaniard showed fans what they will miss, in what may well have been his last final in a Barcelona shirt, but there are reasons to be cheerful for Barcelona supporters; Coutinho is showing signs that he could be exactly what the side need going forward.