Jules Kounde’s strike deep into additional time noticed Barcelona overcome Actual Madrid 3-2 in a Copa del Rey last for the ages.
A Clasico of twists and turns was settled in Barca’s favour on Saturday, as Hansi Flick’s group stored their treble hopes alive.
Kounde was Barca’s hero at Estadio La Cartuja as he drilled a strong, low effort into the online from exterior the field to place them again forward within the 116th minute.
Madrid had earlier come from behind in regular time thanks to 2 objectives within the house of seven minutes.
Kylian Mbappe, on as a half-time substitute, cancelled out Pedri’s Twenty eighth-minute opener with a free-kick that clattered in off the left-hand upright, earlier than Aurelien Tchouameni nodded residence from Arda Guler’s nook.
Barca hit again late on when Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois have been caught out by a ball excessive, from which Ferran Torres coolly restored parity.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who Madrid requested to be faraway from officiating the match after he broke down in a pre-match information convention resulting from what he labelled as unfair remedy by the membership’s media channels, then pointed to the penalty spot when Raul Asencio lunged in on Raphinha within the last minute of stoppage time.
Nonetheless, after a VAR examine, he as a substitute overturned his resolution, deeming Raphinha to have dived because the contact was inadequate.
With Madrid having misplaced Vinicius Junior to damage, Torres went near placing Barca again in entrance within the first half of additional time, nevertheless it was defender Kounde who stepped as much as make the distinction when he reduce out Luka Modric’s sloppy move.
Tempers boiled over as full-time approached, with Rudiger – who had been taken off by Carlo Ancelotti – dismissed for reacting wildly to a call to award Barcelona a free-kick.
And from the ensuing set-piece, Madrid’s hopes have been ended by the whistle, and Los Blancos, who additionally had Lucas Vazquez despatched off after full-time, should now try and rally themselves for an additional Clasico, this time in what may very well be a LaLiga title decider, on Might 11.
THE COPA IS OURS! pic.twitter.com/WLcjstoG6y
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 26, 2025
Sensible Barca recover from the road
Kounde was the unlikely hero on the evening, however Barca’s resolve after going 2-1 down was really exceptional to observe.
This was the eighth Copa del Rey last between these two nice rivals, and Barca have now levelled the rating by way of victories, with all sides claiming 4.
Barcelona have gained the Copa del Rey for a record-extending thirty second time, and regardless of Madrid’s second-half resurgence, they have been worthy victors ultimately.
Their first-half efficiency was wonderful, notably within the absence of star striker Robert Lewandowski, who was dominated out resulting from damage. Torres, who finishes as the highest scorer on this season’s Copa del Rey with six objectives, crammed in admirably up high, whereas Raphinha was a relentless menace, and Pedri’s end for the opener was elegant.
The Spaniard was teed up by Lamine Yamal, who has now contributed to objectives in his final three Clasico appearances, scoring twice and offering one help. He grew to become the fourth Barca participant to realize that feat because the begin of 2013-14, after Luis Suarez, Sergi Roberto and Raphinha.
Flick’s facet have now misplaced solely certainly one of their final 28 matches throughout all competitions – that one loss being their 3-1 reverse by the hands of Borussia Dortmund on April 15. They’ve recorded the joint-most wins throughout all competitions of any group in Europe’s massive 5 leagues in 2025, degree with Paris Saint-Germain on 23.
Additionally it is a 3rd straight Clasico victory for Barca, who triumphed within the Supercopa de Espana last and LaLiga fixture earlier this season. The subsequent Clasico may nicely be the top-flight title decider as nicely.
Barca are the group from Europe’s massive 5 leagues who’ve scored essentially the most objectives this season (155) throughout all competitions, and although their defence couldn’t maintain Madrid’s star-studded assault again, the Blaugrana’s high quality on the high finish of the pitch advised ultimately.
The problem now for Flick is to go on and win LaLiga and the Champions League, having turn into simply the second Barca coach in historical past to win his first three Clasicos throughout all competitions, after Pep Guardiola (5 between 2008 and 2010).
Is that goodbye to Don Carlo?
This feels now like the top for Ancelotti at Actual Madrid, who did their perfect to create a furore within the build-up to the match with their request for the referee to be taken off obligation.
Madrid have been removed from pleased with the officiating all through the match, although after getting themselves forward, they actually solely have themselves accountable for squandering the lead.
For these transient moments late within the second half of regular time, it did appear to be a kind of well-known Madrid comebacks. But it surely was to not be, and with a four-point deficit to overturn in LaLiga, it appears possible that Los Blancos finish the season with none silverware.
Modric, so typically the mercurial in Madrid’s midfield, made the sloppy turnover that led to Kounde’s winner. The Croatian was making his thirty seventh Clasico look, equalling Fernando Hierro, Raul Gonzalez and Iker Casillas for the Tenth-most video games performed within the fixture.
Mbappe, who began the sport on the bench owing to an ankle damage, was launched at half-time with Madrid staring down the barrel of defeat, and it’s honest to say he modified the sport. He gained after which transformed the free-kick for the equaliser and in addition thought he had gained a penalty simply moments after Kounde’s objective, solely to be flagged offside.
The France star has been concerned in eight objectives in his final six finals (six objectives and two assists – three for PSG and three for Madrid), scoring in every of his 4 such appearances for Los Blancos. He’s the primary LaLiga participant to realize that for any group, nevertheless it was not sufficient.
Heading into the sport, Madrid led all groups within the Copa del Rey this season for photographs (155), photographs heading in the right direction (61), anticipated objectives (14.5 anticipated objectives) and massive possibilities created (30). However on the evening, they have been restricted to only 0.82 xG, whereas Barca completed with a extra spectacular xG of 1.76.
Ancelotti has gained 15 titles with Madrid in all. He’s their most profitable coach in the case of trophies gained, and he oversaw Los Blancos’ 2-1 Copa del Rey conquer Barca in 2014, nevertheless it looks as if the writing is on the wall for the Italian now.