Jules Kounde struck late in extra time to hand Barcelona a thrilling 3-2 win over Real Madrid and capture their record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title on Saturday night at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville.
In a gripping El Clasico showdown, Barcelona lifted their second trophy of the season — and their first major silverware under coach Hansi Flick — after surviving a fierce Real Madrid comeback and a chaotic, ill-tempered ending.
A Night of Drama in Seville
Barcelona looked in full control early on. Pedri opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a beautifully placed shot from the edge of the box after some brilliant buildup play involving teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The Catalans dominated possession and could have doubled their lead before halftime, with Ferran Torres striking the post.
But Real Madrid roared back in the second half.
Carlo Ancelotti brought on Kylian Mbappe at halftime, and the French star instantly made a difference. After threatening a couple of times, Mbappe finally leveled the game in the 70th minute with a precise low free-kick that kissed the post on its way in.
Just seven minutes later, Aurelien Tchouameni completed Madrid’s turnaround, powering home a header from Arda Guler’s corner to put the European champions ahead.
Barcelona Dig Deep
Facing defeat, Barcelona responded with character. In the 84th minute, Ferran Torres latched onto a clever ball over the top from Yamal and calmly slotted past Thibaut Courtois to send the match into extra time.
As the minutes ticked down and penalties loomed, it was Kounde who became the hero. Capitalizing on a rare Luka Modric mistake, the French defender surged forward and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner, sparking wild celebrations among the Barcelona fans.
Tempers Flare Late
Real Madrid’s frustrations boiled over in the dying moments. Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, and even Jude Bellingham — after the final whistle — were all shown red cards for dissent and unsportsmanlike behavior.
Madrid’s anger had been simmering even before kickoff, after the club’s public protest against the referee assigned to the match. Throughout the final, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea made several controversial calls, including overturning a late Barcelona penalty after a long VAR review.
What’s Next?
With the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup already in the bag, Barcelona now shift their focus to the Champions League semi-finals, where they will host Inter Milan on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid, now out of Europe and the cup, must rally in LaLiga — where they trail Barcelona by four points — if they hope to avoid ending the season trophyless.
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