Barcelona’s defender, Jules Kounde, delivered a crucial late goal in extra time to secure his team’s 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in the intense final of the Copa del Rey, played in Seville. This win not only granted Barcelona their 32nd Spanish cup but also marked the first significant triumph under coach Hansi Flick’s stewardship as they aim to achieve a quadruple this season.
Barcelona’s victory hymn was sung emphatically, with Pedri opening the scoring at La Cartuja, only for Real Madrid’s forward Kylian Mbappe and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni to equalize within seven minutes in the second half. However, with Ferran Torres scoring in the 84th minute, the game was forced into extra time where Kounde secured the win with a decisive strike.
The match witnessed dramatic shifts, with Madrid’s defense compromised early on by an injury to Ferland Mendy, leading to his substitution by Fran Garcia, who struggled to contain Barcelona’s exciting young star Lamine Yamal. Despite controlling much of the game, Barcelona’s lead was threatened by Madrid’s efforts to strike back, resulting in a series of close calls and contentious moments.
Tensions escalated, especially in the final moments, as Antonio Rudiger, a substitute for Madrid, was shown a red card for allegedly throwing an object at the referee. Conflicts over officiating decisions, including a disallowed penalty for Barcelona and the dismissal of Rudiger, will likely fuel further debates and possibly impact the teams’ upcoming fixtures.
Both teams will carry the bitterness of this encounter into their LaLiga clash in May, a match that could hold significant implications for the league title race.
Barcelona’s victory hymn was sung emphatically, with Pedri opening the scoring at La Cartuja, only for Real Madrid’s forward Kylian Mbappe and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni to equalize within seven minutes in the second half. However, with Ferran Torres scoring in the 84th minute, the game was forced into extra time where Kounde secured the win with a decisive strike.
The match witnessed dramatic shifts, with Madrid’s defense compromised early on by an injury to Ferland Mendy, leading to his substitution by Fran Garcia, who struggled to contain Barcelona’s exciting young star Lamine Yamal. Despite controlling much of the game, Barcelona’s lead was threatened by Madrid’s efforts to strike back, resulting in a series of close calls and contentious moments.
Tensions escalated, especially in the final moments, as Antonio Rudiger, a substitute for Madrid, was shown a red card for allegedly throwing an object at the referee. Conflicts over officiating decisions, including a disallowed penalty for Barcelona and the dismissal of Rudiger, will likely fuel further debates and possibly impact the teams’ upcoming fixtures.
Both teams will carry the bitterness of this encounter into their LaLiga clash in May, a match that could hold significant implications for the league title race.
