Kounde the Hero as Barcelona Edge Real Madrid in Thrilling Copa del Rey Final

A Cup Final for the Ages as Barcelona Triumph in Extra-Time El Clasico
In a Copa del Rey final that had absolutely everything — goals, mistakes, comebacks, red cards, and late drama — Barcelona secured a memorable 3-2 extra-time victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Estadio Olimpico de Sevilla.

Pedri’s sublime first-half strike gave Hansi Flick’s side a deserved lead heading into the break after a dominant opening 45 minutes in which Real Madrid barely laid a glove on the Blaugrana. With Barcelona controlling possession and tempo, Pedri’s goal was the least they deserved for their intensity and incisiveness.

But Carlo Ancelotti’s halftime changes sparked life into Los Blancos. The introduction of Kylian Mbappe turned the match on its head. The French superstar equalized on 70 minutes with a precise free-kick that clipped the post before nestling into the net. Seven minutes later, Aurelien Tchouameni powered home a header from an Arda Guler corner, completing a stunning turnaround.

With Madrid poised for Copa del Rey glory, a late moment of miscommunication between Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rudiger gifted Barcelona an unlikely lifeline. Ferran Torres capitalized on the error to slot into an empty net with six minutes to go, sending the contest into extra-time.

As fatigue set in and tempers flared — leading to three Madrid red cards in added time for Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, and Jude Bellingham — it was Jules Kounde who would decide the final in the 116th minute. Stepping up after intercepting a wayward Madrid pass, the defender unleashed a sensational long-range effort that beat Courtois, sending the Barcelona fans into raptures.

A frenetic final few minutes saw Real Madrid denied a penalty after a marginal offside, and the match descended into chaos as VAR intervened several times in the dying stages.

Ultimately, Barcelona held on to claim their 32nd Copa del Rey title and, perhaps just as importantly, draw level with Real Madrid in head-to-head final wins — four apiece.

The Blaugrana also gained a psychological edge ahead of the LaLiga run-in, where both sides remain neck-and-neck in the title race. Barcelona return to league action against Real Valladolid on May 3, while Real Madrid will aim to bounce back against Celta Vigo on May 4.

A match worthy of its grand stage, this final will be remembered as one of the most dramatic and entertaining El Clasico clashes in Copa del Rey history.