In a Copa del Rey final for the ages, Barcelona edged out Real Madrid 3-2 after extra time at Estadio La Cartuja, with Jules Kounde the unlikely hero of an unforgettable Clásico clash.
Hansi Flick’s side, dreaming of a historic treble, showed remarkable resilience to come from behind and lift the trophy for a record-extending 32nd time. It was Kounde, the French defender, who struck the decisive blow in the 116th minute, drilling a low, powerful effort from outside the box to break Madrid hearts and ignite wild celebrations among the Blaugrana faithful.
The final had all the hallmarks of a classic. Pedri gave Barca the lead in the 28th minute with a composed finish after brilliant work from the electric Lamine Yamal. But Real Madrid, bolstered by Kylian Mbappe’s introduction at half-time, roared back. Mbappe levelled with a spectacular free-kick that ricocheted in off the post, before Aurelien Tchouameni nodded home from an Arda Guler corner to turn the game on its head.
Yet Barcelona refused to buckle. Ferran Torres – the tournament’s top scorer with six goals – capitalized on a defensive mix-up between Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois to calmly slot home and make it 2-2, dragging the final into extra time.
Drama reached fever pitch when referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, himself a controversial figure in the buildup, initially awarded Barca a last-minute penalty after Raul Asencio’s challenge on Raphinha. However, following a VAR review, he overturned the decision, judging Raphinha had dived under minimal contact.
With Madrid reeling from the loss of Vinicius Junior to injury and struggling for rhythm, Torres came close to settling matters early in extra time. But it was Kounde, pouncing on a wayward Luka Modric pass, who stepped up in the defining moment, sending a bullet strike beyond Courtois.
Tensions boiled over in the dying moments: Rudiger, already substituted, was shown a red card for dissent, and Lucas Vazquez was dismissed after the final whistle as Madrid’s frustrations boiled over.
This victory marked Barcelona’s third straight Clásico triumph this season, following wins in the Supercopa de España and LaLiga. It also saw Flick become only the second coach in club history, after Pep Guardiola, to win his first three Clásicos across all competitions.
Despite missing Robert Lewandowski through injury, Barcelona’s front line dazzled. Raphinha was a constant menace, and young sensation Lamine Yamal made more history, having now contributed to goals in each of his last three Clásico appearances – joining an elite list alongside Luis Suárez, Sergi Roberto, and Raphinha.
Flick’s team, now unbeaten in 27 of their last 28 matches, are Europe’s highest scorers this season with 155 goals across all competitions. With LaLiga and Champions League ambitions still alive, the treble dream burns brighter than ever at Camp Nou.
The next Clásico, set for May 11 in LaLiga, could now decide the domestic crown. If Barcelona can replicate this resilience and firepower, history may beckon once again.
Below are pictures of the game and FC Barcelona lifting the 2025 Copa Del Rey Cup;
