FC Barcelona’s Ferran Torres scores their second purpose previous Actual Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois in Copa del Rey closing at Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain on April 27, 2025. — ReutersBarcelona safe thirty second Spanish Cup, first main underneath coach Flick.Mbappe, benched initially, scores free-kick to degree match.Two groups to fulfill once more in Might for title-deciding La Liga conflict.
SEVILLE: Barcelona defender Jules Kounde struck deep in extra-time to determine a gripping Copa del Rey Clasico closing on Saturday in Seville, incomes his aspect a 3-2 win over rivals Actual Madrid.
The Catalans, aiming for a quadruple this season, received the primary main trophy of Hansi Flick’s reign as coach and a record-extending thirty second Spanish cup in dramatic style.
Pedri despatched Barcelona forward at La Cartuja however two Actual Madrid targets in seven second-half minutes, from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, pulled the Spanish and European champions degree.
Nevertheless, Ferran Torres struck within the 84th minute to take the sport to extra-time and Kounde drilled house to win it for the La Liga leaders.
Substituted Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was despatched off within the closing seconds for showing to throw an object onto the pitch in direction of the referee.
Madrid, who began with high scorer Mbappe on the bench after an ankle harm, suffered an early setback when left-back Ferland Mendy, enjoying his first sport for six weeks, suffered a thigh harm.
Carlo Ancelotti despatched 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 sport, burst previous him with ease as Barca threatened Thibaut Courtois’ purpose more and more.
The Catalans, who received the primary two Clasicos this season in La Liga and the Spanish Tremendous Cup, scoring 9 targets within the course of, managed the ball.
They took the lead after 28 minutes, Pedri putting the ball into the highest nook with precision and energy from the sting of the field.
It was a sensational purpose, beginning with a sensible Pau Cubarsi interception in his personal half.
Pedri unfold the play out to Yamal on the fitting, who reduce inside and held the ball up till the Canary Islander reached the field and had a sight of purpose.
Madrid had been targeted on defending however Barcelona’s opener introduced them out of their shell — and in addition introduced Mbappe off the bench to heat up.
Jude Bellingham began and completed an outstanding transfer however was offside, and Vinicius Junior would have received a penalty as Inigo Martinez hacked him down however had additionally strayed off within the build-up.
Barcelona may have doubled their lead, with Dani Olmo’s nook evading a number of gamers and bouncing off the far publish, with Cubarsi unable to get there as Dani Ceballos held him again.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea was lenient with some heated Madrid tackles, maybe cowed by Friday’s drama because the Spanish champions seethed at his pre-match feedback denouncing assaults on officers by the membership’s tv channel.
Madrid despatched Mbappe on for Rodrygo Goes at half-time and shortly they started to work Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny with Vinicius and Mbappe coming shut.
Finish to finish
Mbappe pulled Madrid degree virtually on his personal within the seventieth minute.
The striker surged ahead and was introduced down on the sting of the field by Frenkie de Jong. Mbappe took the free-kick himself and fired a low effort in off the publish.
Seven minutes later Madrid took the lead, Tchouameni discovering house to go house Arda Guler’s nook previous the helpless Szczesny.
Barcelona responded when Yamal performed a scrumptious move excessive for Torres, which drew each Rudiger and Courtois, however the Spaniard obtained there first and rolled house.
Controversy unsurprisingly reared its head earlier than the match headed to extra-time.
Barcelona clamoured for a penalty when Rudiger appeared to convey down Torres, after which had been awarded one deep in stoppage time as Raphinha tumbled underneath strain from Raul Asencio.
Nevertheless, the referee, known as to evaluate the incident by VAR, overturned his choice and booked the Brazilian for diving.
In extra-time Barcelona had been ascendant and probed for a possible winner.
They ultimately discovered it when Kounde intercepted an uncharacteristically free Luka Modric move and beat Courtois with a robust low effort from exterior the field, sparking wild celebrations.
Rudiger’s dismissal and Madrid’s pre-match histrionics relating to the refereeing staff will make sure the repercussions run on — and the groups meet once more in La Liga in Might, which may determine the title race.
