By Alex Fredrick
In a breathtaking Copa del Rey final that stretched past midnight in Seville, Barcelona emerged victorious with a dramatic 3-2 win over Real Madrid, a match that ended with tempers flaring and three Madrid players sent off.
With penalties looming and just four minutes left in extra time, Jules Koundé fired home a thunderous shot that sent the Barcelona faithful into wild celebration. After a rollercoaster evening taking the lead, falling behind, and seeing a last-minute penalty overturned, Barça finally sealed the title in what was the first Clásico final in 11 years.
Real Madrid were not finished yet. In a chaotic ending, Kylian Mbappé appeared to win a penalty deep into added time, but the flag went up for offside, extinguishing their final hopes. As the final whistle blew, frustration boiled over: Lucas Vázquez, Antonio Rüdiger, and Jude Bellingham were all shown red cards amid the furious protests. Bellingham even had to be restrained from confronting the referee.
The match itself was a thrilling, bruising encounter more like four mini-games packed into one. Goals came from Pedri, Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Ferran Torres, but it was Koundé’s late heroics that decided it. Yet, controversy was never far away: late in regulation time, Barcelona thought they had won a penalty when Raphinha was fouled, only for VAR to intervene and overturn the decision after agonizing minutes of replays and tension.
Madrid, who had boycotted pre-match events in protest of officiating standards, were forced to rue missed chances and costly mistakes. Despite a second-half surge led by the introduction of Mbappé, Madrid couldn’t hold their advantage. Torres equalized late after a brilliant assist from teenager Lamine Yamal, and Koundé’s winner crushed their hopes entirely.
It was a night full of drama, exhaustion, and shifting momentum a true classic. Barcelona now dreams of a treble, while Madrid stares at the possibility of a trophyless season, their frustrations leaving a bitter aftertaste to a match that showcased football at its most raw and spectacular.
