Barcelona beat Real Madrid in an unforgettable 3-2 Copa del Rey final on Saturday night in Seville, with Jules Koundé’s extra-time winner sealing Barcelona’s 32nd title in Spain’s oldest competition.
Barcelona Beat Real Madrid: Key Moments from a Wild Clásico Final
The Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Real Madrid lived up to its enormous billing, delivering late drama, young star performances, and VAR controversy:
-
Pedri: Opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a superb long-range strike.
-
Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni: Hit back for Madrid with quickfire goals midway through the second half.
-
Ferran Torres: Forced extra time with a clinical finish in the 84th minute after rounding Courtois.
-
VAR Drama: Barcelona had a stoppage-time penalty overturned for a foul on Raphinha, infuriating both benches.
-
Jules Koundé: Capitalized on a Madrid mistake to slot home the 116th-minute winner.
Hansi Flick’s Impact: A New Barcelona Mentality
Under coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona beat Real Madrid for the third time this season, a stunning reversal after last year’s heavy defeats.
Key tactical shifts:
-
Pressing higher to disrupt Madrid’s buildup.
-
Trusting young players like Pau Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal in crucial moments.
Barcelona are now dreaming of a treble, with the Copa del Rey secured, a LaLiga title in sight, and a Champions League semifinal clash against Inter Milan looming.
Young Guns Steal the Show for Barcelona
-
Pedri: Dictated the midfield tempo and scored a stunning goal.
-
Lamine Yamal: Just 17 years old, yet provided two calm assists under heavy pressure.
-
Pau Cubarsí: Brilliant in defense, reading Madrid’s attacks and contributing to Barça’s opener.
-
Ferran Torres: Clinched the tournament’s top scorer honors with six goals.
This new generation is already delivering on the big stage.
Real Madrid’s Frustration Boils Over
Despite a magical free-kick goal from Kylian Mbappé and an inspired cameo off the bench, Real Madrid fell short again. Post-match frustrations boiled over:
-
Antonio Rüdiger and Lucas Vázquez both sent off after heated protests.
-
Carlo Ancelotti’s future now hangs in the balance with Madrid trailing Barcelona in LaLiga and no major trophies secured this season.
Madrid’s next test: the final LaLiga Clásico of the season on May 11 — a must-win to keep their slim title hopes alive.
