Barcelona clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory over fierce rivals Real Madrid in extra time to lift the Copa del Rey at Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium on Saturday.
The match reached a fever pitch when French defender Jules Koundé fired a stunning low drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards out in the 116th minute, sealing the win for the Catalan side and sending their fans into a frenzy.
Barcelona took the lead in the 28th minute through a brilliant curling strike from Pedri, who found the top corner from outside the box. The first half was dominated by Barcelona’s slick passing and control of possession.
However, Real Madrid roared back in the second half. Substitute Vinícius Júnior made an immediate impact, setting up the equalizer in the 70th minute when his cross was turned in by Karim Benzema. Seven minutes later, Aurelien Tchouaméni gave Los Blancos the lead with a towering header from a corner.
Refusing to back down, Barcelona leveled the match in the 84th minute. Ferran Torres finished off a swift counterattack, slotting the ball past the Real Madrid goalkeeper to make it 2-2 and force extra time.
Just when it seemed the match was destined for a penalty shootout, Koundé’s emphatic winner secured Barcelona’s record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title. The victory also marked a significant achievement for coach Xavi Hernández in his first season at the helm.
The match ended on a contentious note, with Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger and Lucas Vázquez receiving red cards from the bench for dissent. Jude Bellingham was also sent off after the final whistle for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“It was the perfect moment to give our fans something to celebrate,” said Ferran Torres, who was named Man of the Match. “We fought until the end. It’s always special when you win against Real Madrid. Now we need to stay focused because the Champions League semifinals are coming up.”
The win keeps Barcelona’s hopes alive for a treble this season, as they continue to compete in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. Real Madrid, meanwhile, will have to regroup quickly to avoid a trophy-less campaign.
