Barcelona Beat Real Madrid 3-2 to Win Copa del Rey in Thrilling El Clásico Final
Seville, Spain (WE) — El Clásico never disappoints, and Saturday night’s Copa del Rey final at Estadio de La Cartuja will be remembered as one of the most dramatic showdowns between Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent memory. In front of 70,000 roaring fans, Barcelona clinched a 3-2 victory after extra time, lifting their first Copa del Rey trophy since 2021.
Big names delivered big moments — Pedri scored his first goal in 15 matches, Kylian Mbappé made an instant impact off the bench, and Jules Koundé etched his name into Barcelona lore with a late winner. This El Clásico final exceeded all expectations.
Let’s dive into how it all unfolded, along with player ratings and key takeaways from an unforgettable night in Seville.
First Half: Young Guns Blaze a Trail for Barcelona
Barcelona came flying out of the gates, playing with energy, precision, and fearlessness. Their young stars, particularly Lamine Yamal, were at the heart of everything good.
The breakthrough came from Pedri in the 28th minute. After a flowing move orchestrated by Yamal and Raphinha, Pedri coolly finished past Thibaut Courtois to make it 1-0. It was his first goal across all competitions in over three months — and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Real Madrid, for their part, struggled to find rhythm. Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham were quiet, while Barcelona’s backline, marshaled by Koundé and Inigo Martinez, held firm.
Halftime arrived with Barcelona ahead, and Real Madrid in desperate need of a spark.
Second Half: Real Madrid Fight Back
Carlo Ancelotti wasted no time making changes, bringing on Mbappé at halftime. The French superstar immediately changed the game’s tempo.
In the 58th minute, Mbappé won a free kick just outside the box — and he made no mistake. His low, curling effort sneaked past Szczesny, leveling the score at 1-1.
Then, the momentum fully swung. In the 68th minute, Vinicius Jr. capitalized on a defensive lapse to smash Madrid ahead 2-1. After a sluggish first half, Vini Jr. was electric in the second, terrorizing Barcelona’s defenders.
But Barça refused to go away.
Late Drama: Ferran Torres and Jules Koundé Seal It
Just when it seemed like Madrid would see out the win, Ferran Torres came up big. In the 83rd minute, Torres latched onto a slick Yamal pass to equalize at 2-2. The stadium erupted.
From there, the match became chaotic. Barcelona were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time, only for VAR to controversially overturn the decision, booking Raphinha for simulation.
So, into extra time they went.
Both teams tired but pushed forward desperately. It looked destined for penalties — until Jules Koundé intervened.
In the 116th minute, Luka Modrić and Brahim Diaz made a costly defensive error. Koundé pounced, stealing the ball in the final third before blasting a low shot past Courtois to make it 3-2 Barcelona.
It was a stunning climax to a rollercoaster final. Moments later, the final whistle sounded, sparking wild celebrations among Barcelona players and fans.
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Barcelona Player Ratings vs Real Madrid
Wojciech Szczesny (6.5):
Made crucial saves on Vinicius and Mbappé but will rue his slight hesitation on Mbappé’s free-kick goal.
Gerard Martin (6.5):
Strong and composed for the most part, though a few lapses in concentration.
Inigo Martinez (6.5):
Pushed the ball into attacking areas smartly, but the penalty scare early on could have been disastrous.
Pau Cubarsi (5.5):
Struggled under pressure, particularly against Vinicius in the second half.
Jules Koundé (8.5):
An all-time El Clásico performance. Heroic defending in extra time topped off with the winning goal.
Pedri (7.5):
Brilliant opening goal and masterful in midfield. His 108 touches underlined his control of the game.
Dani Olmo (6.5):
Worked hard but wasn’t as involved as Barcelona would have liked.
Frenkie de Jong (6.5):
Neat and tidy early but faded under Madrid’s physical pressure.
Raphinha (6.5):
Energetic, created chances, and almost won a penalty — though VAR ruled it a dive.
Lamine Yamal (8.5):
Two assists and outstanding creativity at just 17 years old. Played maturely despite the rough treatment.
Ferran Torres (7.5):
Quiet for much of the night but delivered when it mattered with the vital equalizer.
Substitutes
Fermin Lopez (6): Decent energy but limited impact.
Ronald Araujo (6): Came on to stabilize late.
Gavi (7): Brought tenacity and urgency.
Eric Garcia (N/A): Late substitution.
Pau Victor (N/A): Came on very late.
Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Barcelona
Thibaut Courtois (5.5):
Brilliant saves kept Madrid alive, but poor footwork and a questionable second goal marred his performance.
Lucas Vazquez (5.5):
Struggled before being subbed off early.
Raul Asencio (6):
Lucky VAR saved him from giving away a decisive penalty.
Antonio Rudiger (7.5):
Towering at times but shares blame for the late collapse.
Ferland Mendy (N/A):
Injured early.
Aurelien Tchouameni (7):
Everywhere on the pitch, though tired late.
Fede Valverde (7):
Struggled technically but made crucial defensive interventions.
Dani Ceballos (5):
Anonymous performance.
Rodrygo (5):
Ineffective and subbed at halftime.
Jude Bellingham (6.5):
Some bright moments but couldn’t take control.
Vinicius Junior (6):
Poor first half, electric second half.
Substitutes
Fran Garcia (6): Provided width.
Kylian Mbappé (7.5): Instant impact off the bench with a brilliant free kick.
Luka Modric (7): Veteran calmness, but critical late mistake.
Arda Guler (7.5): Sparkled with creativity.
Brahim Diaz (N/A): Late cameo.
Endrick (N/A): Substituted into defense late on.
Match Highlights: Barcelona Triumphs 3-2 in Extra Time
The first half of the Copa del Rey final was an exciting, fast-paced affair with Barcelona taking the lead in the 28th minute through Pedri’s clinical finish. Following a brilliant passing sequence involving Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, Pedri’s goal marked his first in over three months. Barcelona’s defense, led by Jules Koundé, stood firm, denying Real Madrid any meaningful opportunities despite an early struggle from their attack. By halftime, the score was 1-0 in favor of Barcelona, with Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham failing to make an impact.
Real Madrid came out stronger in the second half, thanks to the introduction of Kylian Mbappé, who made an immediate impact by scoring a brilliant free kick in the 58th minute to level the score at 1-1. Madrid gained momentum, and in the 68th minute, Vinicius Jr. capitalized on a defensive lapse to put Madrid ahead 2-1. However, Barcelona responded with resilience. Ferran Torres equalized in the 83rd minute, sending the match into extra time after a controversial penalty decision was overturned by VAR.
In the 116th minute, Barcelona’s Jules Koundé became the hero, capitalizing on a defensive error by Luka Modrić and Brahim Diaz to score the winning goal. His composed finish past Thibaut Courtois secured a 3-2 victory for Barcelona, earning them their first Copa del Rey title since 2021. The final whistle sparked wild celebrations from Barcelona fans and players alike, with King Felipe VI presenting the trophy to Barcelona captain Sergi Roberto.
What’s Next?
For Barcelona, this win brings momentum as they continue to rebuild under new coach Hansi Flick. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will have to regroup quickly with the Champions League semifinals approaching.
On a night dripping with drama, skill, controversy, and pure emotion, Barcelona came out on top, beating Real Madrid 3-2 after extra time to claim the Copa del Rey title.
It was a fitting tribute to the magic of El Clásico — and a reminder that in Spanish football’s greatest rivalry, anything is possible.
