Dest one game away from winning his first trophy with Barcelona

The United States international played 63 minutes in Barcelona’s 3-0 victory against Sevilla in the second leg of the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.

Sergiño Dest has had many up and downs at FC Barcelona since arriving from Ajax last summer. He became an undisputed starter for manager Ronald Koeman in the first half of the season, but due to injuries his level dropped in the past few weeks. His worst game with the LaLiga side was in the 4-1 loss against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League at the Camp Nou.

Dest has bounced back from his performance against PSG and on Wednesday night he was in the starting XI that defeated Sevilla 3-0 in the second leg of the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. Barça won with an aggregate score of 3-2 to advance to the final, which will be played against the winner of Athletic Bilbao vs Levante.

One game away from first silverware at Barcelona

Dest has scored one goal and supplied one assist in 27 appearances with FC Barcelona in all competitions this season. He almost became the first American to win a trophy with Barça on 17 January, but they lost 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final against Athletic Bilbao, in a game in which he was in the starting XI, but yet again was subbed out in the second half.

He has regained Koeman’s trust and in one of the most important games of the season, Dest started the game against Sevilla. The United States international played 63 minutes and with Barcelona trailing by one goal, Koeman replaced him so Griezmann could play and save the day.

That was the right decision by Koeman, because the Frenchman assisted Gerard Piqué in stoppage time to force extra time and later on Barça would end up winning 3-0 to advance to the final of the Copa del Rey. Now they await their rival between Levante and Bilbao, but if Barcelona end up winning this trophy he will be the first American to lift a trophy in Spain.