FC Barcelona won the Copa del Rey title against Real Madrid.
FC Barcelona won a record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title on Saturday by beating bitter rival Real Madrid 3-2 in a thrilling final that required extra time.
Barca went 1-0 ahead in Seville through midfielder Pedri, who, with help from a Pau Cubarsi that had pulled off a masterful block near his penalty area, started the successful move via a typical pinpoint long ball.
Lamine Yamal held things up in Madrid’s box, and then laid off a cool diagonal pass for Pedri that was fired into Thibaut Courtois’ top corner.
Deep into the second half, Kylian Mbappe equalized on 70 minutes thanks to a rare converted free kick after Frenkie de Jong brought him down with a tactical foul that consisted of tugging at the Frenchman’s shirt.
Aurelien Tchouameni scored a header from a corner seven minutes later, and Madrid looked like it would take home the spoils.
Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti had introduced Luka Modric and Arda Guler, which resulted in their side looking the much sharper of the two outfits heading forward.
With Robert Lewandowski out injured, a front trident of Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Lamine failed to make an impact as Barca on the whole seemed exhausted.
When the chips were down, however, Lamine sent Ferran on a run that saw him beat both Antonio Rudiger and Courtois to the ball and then fire into a pretty much empty net from a tight angle.
The equalizer on 84 minutes set up a tense additional half hour of extra half time, with Fermin Lopez a bright spark for the Catalans who looked dangerous while Gavi did his best to contain an outstanding Jude Bellingham.
With 116 minutes down on the clock, when penalties appeared to be a certainty, Jules Kounde was sharp when cutting a Luka Modric pass meant for a slow Brahim Diaz.
Most probably affirming his status as a modern day club legend regardless of what happens later, the defender fired past Courtois to send Culers present, plus head coach Hansi Flick and the bench, into raptures.
Barca held on for the win, and in turn sealed a record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title. Furthermore, chances of a quadruple are still alive.
The Blaugrana of course won another RFEF title at the turn of 2025 in the Spanish Super Cup also claimed at Madrid’s expense, and currently leads La Liga by four points.
On Wednesday, it will receive Inter Milan in Montjuic for the first leg of a Champions League semifinal clash.
