Koundé's Extra-Time Winner Secures Copa del Rey for Barcelona

Barcelona kept their treble hopes alive in spectacular fashion, edging out Real Madrid 3-2 after extra time in a heart-pounding Copa del Rey final in Seville. Jules Koundé became the unlikely hero, scoring the winning goal in the 116th minute to deliver Barcelona’s 32nd Copa title, the most in history.
The game, played at La Cartuja Stadium, was packed with drama from start to finish. Koundé’s moment came when he pounced on a mistake by Luka Modrić and fired a low shot past Thibaut Courtois, sending the Barcelona fans into wild celebration. This victory gives Barça a huge boost heading into their Champions League semifinal against Inter Milan and strengthens their grip on La Liga, where they lead Real Madrid by four points.

FC Barcelona players celebrate victory over Real Madrid in Copa del Rey final Credit: Barcelona/ X

Barcelona started strong, with Pedri running the show in midfield. In the 28th minute, he combined beautifully with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal before smashing a long-range shot into the net. Madrid struggled to respond in the first half, but the second half brought a shift. Kylian Mbappé came on after the break and immediately changed the game. He curled in a brilliant free-kick in the 70th minute to level the score, and just seven minutes later, Aurélien Tchouaméni rose above the defense to head Madrid into a 2-1 lead. But Barcelona refused to give up. Ferran Torres, stepping up in the absence of Robert Lewandowski, capitalised on a rare mistake by Courtois and scored in the 84th minute to make it 2-2 and send the final into extra time.

Lamine Yamal Celebrates Copa del Rey Triumph Over Real Madrid

As both teams pushed through exhaustion, the match seemed headed for penalties. But then came Koundé’s moment of magic, snatching victory at the death. The final minutes turned chaotic, with Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger, Jude Bellingham, and Lucas Vázquez all shown red cards for furious protests, showing just how much pressure Madrid were under.
After the match, Torres praised his teammates, saying, “This was such a tough game, but we showed we’re a team that never gives up.” Meanwhile, the loss was a heavy blow to Madrid’s season. Already out of the Champions League after a defeat to Arsenal, questions now surround coach Carlo Ancelotti’s future, with growing talk of a possible move to Brazil.
For Barcelona, it’s a fresh start under new coach Hansi Flick. The German manager has breathed new life into the team, giving young talents like Yamal and Pau Cubarsí the chance to shine on the biggest stage. The night ended with King Felipe VI handing the trophy to captains Ronald Araújo and Marc-André ter Stegen, a proud moment on a night of joy and high drama. With this momentum and belief, Barcelona now look closer than ever to repeating their legendary treble triumphs of 2009 and 2015.