Jules Kounde’s goal in the second period of extra time gave Hansi Flick’s Barcelona a 3-2 win over Real Madrid in an intoxicating Clasico, as Barca claimed the 2024-25 Copa del Rey in Seville.
The game could hardly have been more memorable despite a first half that at times felt tentative. Lamine Yamal cued up Pedri for a beautiful opener and it went 1-0 into the break.
MORE — Barcelona schedule, stats | Real Madrid schedule, stats
That’s when Carlo Ancelotti brought surprising Starting XI omission Kylian Mbappe into the game. He scored a splendid, smart free kick in the 70th minute, and Real went ahead seven minutes later through Aurelien Tchouameni.
But Yamal found Ferran Torres with a scintillating pass in the 84th minute and the forward tied the game and forced extra time, where Kounde was immense at both ends.
The game finished in ugly fashion as Antonio Rudiger, otherwise a star of the game, had to be restrained and joined Lucas Vazquez in earning red cards in the 123rd minute as the match reached its conclusion. The red cards capped off a tempestuous week that saw Real boycott a pregame news conference and a training session after referees spoke about the pressure put on them by the Madrid club’s official channels.
The win is a record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title for Barca, and lines up a treble if they can hold off Real in La Liga — the Blaugranas have a four-point lead and host Real on May 11 — and win the UEFA Champions League.
The bad news for Barca is they gave a lot of energy and will have to somehow find the juice for next week’s Champions League semifinal first leg at home to Inter Milan.
How to watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final
Kickoff time: 4pm ET Saturday
Venue: Estadio de La Cartuja — Seville
TV Channel/Streaming: ESPN+
Barcelona vs Real Madrid final score: 3-2
Pedri 28', Kylian Mbappe 70', Aurelien Tchouameni 77', Ferran Torres 84', Jules Kounde 116'
Barcelona vs Real Madrid live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Barcelona wins Copa del Rey
Barca are champions after an enthralling 120 minutes capped this season’s tournament.
Antonio Rudiger and Lucas Vazquez were shown red cards from the bench in the third minute of extra time stoppage time for extraordinary protests. Rudiger had to be held back from re-entering the pitch.
Jules Kounde goal — Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (116th minute)
Kounde. fresh off a pair of immense defensive plays, makes a steal in Real’s third.
He darts toward the 18 and beats Courtois! Barca have retaken the lead!
SCENES IN SEVILLA!!! JULES KOUNDE INTERCEPTS THE BALL AND SCORES FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX TO GIVE BARCELONA THE LEAD WITH FIVE MINUTES LEFT IN EXTRA TIME!
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 26, 2025
ABSOLUTELY UNREAL 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/DyRbYqo6Wg
Enter Endrick
Ancelotti is going for it, bringing off Rudiger from a soldier-like performance and inserting the teenager from Brazil: Endrick.
Barca bright to start second period of ET
Ferran Torres has the ball in the goal but is offside.
Then Fermin Lopez can’t quite find the shot he wants and loops an effort high and harmlessly over Courtois’ goal.
Ferran Torres comes close to end first period of extra time
Did Courtois have his far post covered? It didn’t look like it, and Rudiger’s shoulder barge toi put off Ferran Torres’ left-footed low shot in the 105th minute was immense.
Head to extra time!
Goodness, gracious — we get more of this.
Barcelona penalty! But wait! No!
Raphinha cuts past Raul Asencio and hits the grass.
The body language wasn’t that of a dive, but the replay is yet to show a clear view of contact.
Was it the back foot?
Referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea is being called to the screen...
He’s changed his call and is giving Raphinha a yellow for diving. It really looked like his back foot was caught but perhaps he dragged it.
Real subs
Vini Jr exits for Brahim Diaz in the 89th minute.
Ferran Torres goal — Barca 2-2 Real (84th minute)
We’re level again!
Torres, who had been quiet, solves Courtois and ties this match off a wondrous long assist from Yamal, his second of the game.
This has to be one of the most electric, high-quality halves of attacking football this season.
FERRAN TORRES HAS DONE IT AGAIN!!! HE TIES THE GAME FOR BARCELONA WITH SIX MINUTES LEFT!
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 26, 2025
LAMINE YAMAL WITH HIS SECOND ASSIST OF THE GAME!
WHAT A MOMENT IN THIS COPA DEL REY FINAL 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/6Wtf1R7sLu
Fantastic save by Thibaut Courtois
Lamine Yamal looked to have the corner picked out but Courtois flies to his right and limits the damage to a corner.
Into the final 10 minutes1
Aurelien Tchouameni goal! Barca 1-2 Real (77th minute)
Cabesa!
Tchouameni loses Kounde with a shove, than cuts back to meet an arrow of a free kick and head it to the left of a leaning Szczesny.
The remontada is complete!
AURELIEN TCHOUAMENI FROM ARDA GÜLER'S CORNER TO GIVE REAL MADRID THE LEAD IN THE COPA DEL REY FINAL!
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 26, 2025
WHAT A TURNAROUND IN THIS SECOND HALF 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TF6hmgAqI1
Kylian Mbappe free kick goal! Barca 1-1 Real (70th minute)
The wall isn’t perfect, and Mbappe’s quick run-up catches Szczesny in an imperfect dive.
Mbappe has delivered the equalizer in beautiful fashion.
KYLIAN MBAPPE WITH HIS FIRST-EVER DIRECT FREE KICK GOAL TO TIE IT UP IN THE COPA DEL REY FINAL 😱
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 26, 2025
WHAT AN IMPACT OFF THE BENCH 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Wh5K7xx1Cu
Dangerous free kick as Real chase referee for red
Frenkie de Jong hauls down Kylian Mbappe outside the box and Real swarm the referee seeking a red card for DOGSO.
Sure seems like there was coverage, and the referee shockingly does not change his mind.
Mbappe will get his chance from the dead ball.
Wojciech Szczesny on fire!
First, Fede Valverde cues up a 1v1 chance for Vinicius Jr and former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny gets big to deny the Brazilian twice.
Then it’s Kylian Mbappe creating room for a shot on the left side, and Szszesny is there again!
Here comes Kylian Mbappe
This is the very opposite of a surprise — Kylian Mbappe will enter this Clasico in the hopes of giving one-attempt Real a shot in the arm.
Rodrygo exits the game.
Halftime — Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid
This is getting very testy, as Raul Asencio clobbered Dani Olmo, a constant target, just before halftime.
Kylian Mbappe was left out of the Starting XI and he almost certainly should be in the game now.
Barca have struck the post, held 63% of the ball, and taken nine of the game’s 10 shot attempts.
Real look uninspired outside of Antonio Rudiger, Aurlien Tchouameni, and perhaps Jude Bellingham.
Real penalty pulled back for Vini Jr offside
A backtracking Inigo Martinez slides into Vinicius Junior for a stone-cold penalty.
But Vini started his run too early and was offside!
Barca’s lead remains 1-0 in the second of five mnutes of first-half stoppage time.
Pedri goal (video) — Barca 1-0 Real (28th minute)
Sensational!
The Spaniard starts the play at midfield with a long diagonal ball to Lamine Yamal down the wing.
He finishes it from just inside the arc with an arrow past Thibaut Courtois!
PEDRI OPENS THE SCORING FOR BARCELONA IN THE COPA DEL REY FINAL!!!
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 26, 2025
LAMINE YAMAL WITH THE ASSIST 🔥 pic.twitter.com/i1Fa8XHsGP
Lamine Yamal comes close!
Real is trying to weather ebullient Barca with physical play, but the Blaugranas keep coming.
Lamine Yamal cuts in from the left a drills a low shot that misses the far post by inches.
0-0, 19'.
Ferland Mendy injury — Early sub for Real
Mendy injures his right thigh in a clash with Jules Kounde and requires treatment in the ninth minute.
Fran Garcia will take his place in the 11th, as Real burns its first sub.
Scoreless in Seville between Barca and Real.
Barcelona lineup
Szczesny, Kounde, Cubarsi, I. Martinez, Martin, Pedri, De Jong, Yamal, Raphinha, F. Torres, Olmo
Real Madrid lineup
Courtois, Vazquez, Rudiger, Mendy, Asencio, Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Bellingham, Rodygo, Vinicius Jr
Barcelona team news
Barca won’t have Robert Lewandowski back for this match, as the Polish forward joins Alex Balde, Marc Casado, and Marc Bernal on the injured list. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen could return, but Wojciech Szczesny is expected to start in goal.
Real Madrid team news
Real’s lost Eduardo Camavinga for the rest of the season, as the influential midfielder has joined Dani Carvajal and Eder Miliato on the shelf.
How did Barcelona get to the Copa del Rey final?
January 4, 2025: Barbastro 0-4 Barcelona
January 15, 2025: Barcelona 5-1 Real Betis
February 6, 2025: Valencia 0-5 Barcelona (quarterfinal)
February 25, 2025: Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid (semifinal first leg)
April 2, 2025: Atletico Madrid 0-1 (4-5 agg.) Barcelona (semi second leg)
April 26, 2025: Final vs Barcelona, Estadio La Cartuja in Seville.
How did Real Madrid get to the Copa del Rey final?
January 6, 2025: Minera 0-5 Real Madrid
January 16, 2025: Real Madrid 5-2 Celta Vigo, Round of 16
February 5, 2025: Leganes 2-3 Real Madrid, quarterfinal
February 26, 2025: Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid, semifinal first leg
April 1, 2025: Real Madrid 4-4 aet (5-4 agg.) Real Sociedad, semifinal second leg
April 26, 2025: Final vs Real Madrid, Estadio La Cartuja in Seville.
How many times has the Copa del Rey final been a Clasico?
Barcelona and Real Madrid last contested a Copa del Rey final in 2013-14, with Real winning 2-1 at Mestalla.
The clubs have split their all-time final meetings 3-3.
Who has won the most Copas del Rey?
Barcelona are the tournament’s most successful team, winning 31 titles and making the final a further 11 times.
Athletic Bilbao, not Real Madrid, are next! Athletic Club have won 24 times and appeared in 16 other finals.
Real is third with 20 titles and 20 runners-up finishes.
