•Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (CR) and defender Ronald Federico Araujo da Silva (CL) raise their trophy as they celebrate victory with teammates yesterday
Barcelona edged Real Madrid 3-2 after extra time, with Jules Kounde’s late strike sealing victory in a thrilling 2025 Copa del Rey final yesterday in Seville.
The Catalans, aiming for a quadruple this season, won the first major trophy of Hansi Flick’s reign as coach and a record-extending 32nd Spanish Cup dramatically, reports AFP.
Pedri sent Barcelona ahead at La Cartuja, but two Real Madrid goals in seven second-half minutes, from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, pulled the Spanish and European champions level.
However, Ferran Torres struck in the 84th minute to take the game to extra time, and Kounde drilled home to win it for the La Liga leaders.
Substituted Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was sent off in the final seconds for appearing to throw an object onto the pitch towards the referee, and Lucas Vázquez, also replaced, was dismissed for further protest.
“It was a good time to bring joy to our fans — we have to enjoy it but without forgetting the Champions League semis are coming,” Torres told La 1, with Barca hosting Inter Milan on Wednesday.
“They can make a party — for today, it’s OK,” a delighted Flick, who has won all seven finals he has coached in his career, told Movistar.
Madrid started with top scorer Mbappe on the bench after an ankle injury and lost Ferland Mendy early on with a thigh issue.
Carlo Ancelotti sent on Fran Garcia in his place, with the job of shackling Barcelona’s dazzling teenage winger Lamine Yamal.
The 17-year-old Spain star, who dyed his hair blond for the game, led the assault on Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
The Catalans, who won the first two Clasicos this season in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, scoring nine goals in the process, controlled the ball.
They took the lead after 28 minutes, Pedri placing the ball into the top corner with precision and power from the edge of the box.
It was a sensational goal, starting with a smart Pau Cubarsi interception in his half.
Pedri spread the play out to Yamal on the right, who cut inside and held the ball up until the Canary Islander arrived with a sight of goal.
Barcelona’s opener brought a defensive Madrid out of their shell — and also Mbappe off the bench to warm up.
The excellent Jude Bellingham netted but was offside, and Vinicius Junior would have won a penalty as Inigo Martinez hacked him down but had also strayed off in the build-up.
Barcelona could have doubled their lead, with Dani Olmo’s corner evading several players and bouncing off the far post, with Cubarsi unable to get there as Dani Ceballos held him back.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea was lenient with some heated Madrid tackles, perhaps cowed by Friday’s drama as the Spanish champions seethed at his pre-match comments denouncing attacks on officials by the club’s television channel.
Madrid sent Mbappé on for Rodrygo Goes at half-time, and soon he and Vinicius began to work on Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Mbappe pulled Madrid level almost on his own in the 70th minute.
The striker surged forward and was brought down on the edge of the box, firing the free kick home off the post.
Seven minutes later, Madrid took the lead, Tchouameni finding space to head Arda Guler’s corner past the helpless Szczesny.
Barcelona responded when Yamal played a delicious pass over the top for Torres, which drew both Rudiger and Courtois, but the Spaniard pipped them there and rolled home.
Controversy unsurprisingly reared its head before the match headed to extra time.
Barcelona clamoured for a penalty when Rudiger appeared to bring down Torres, and then were awarded one deep in stoppage time as Raphinha tumbled under pressure from Raul Asencio.
However, the referee, called to review the incident by VAR, overturned his decision.
In extra time, Barcelona were ascendant and probed for a potential winner.
They eventually found it when Kounde intercepted an uncharacteristically loose Luka Modric pass and beat Courtois from outside the box, sparking wild celebrations.
Rudiger’s dismissal and Madrid’s pre-match histrionics regarding the refereeing team will ensure the repercussions run on — and the teams meet again in La Liga in May, which could decide the title race.
