In a thrilling Copa del Rey final, Barcelona triumphed over Real Madrid with a 3-2 victory, thanks to Jules Kounde's decisive goal in extra time. The match was a classic encounter, with Barcelona initially taking the lead through Pedri's stunning goal, only for Real Madrid to equalize and take the lead with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni. Ferran Torres brought Barcelona back into the game, forcing extra time, where Kounde capitalized on a mistake by Luka Modric to score the winning goal. The match was filled with drama, including a penalty decision overturned by VAR and red cards shown to Madrid players Antonio Rudiger and Lucas Vazquez after full-time. Despite Madrid's efforts and controversial moments, Barcelona secured their 32nd Copa del Rey title, maintaining their path towards a potential treble this season.

Barcelona opened the scoring in the final with a long-range strike by Pedri, set up by a brilliant pass from teenage winger Lamine Yamal, who was a constant threat throughout the match.

Kylian Mbappe, coming off the bench at halftime, made an immediate impact for Real Madrid, scoring a stunning free-kick to level the match and setting the stage for a competitive second half.

Real Madrid briefly took the lead through Aurelien Tchouameni's header from a set-piece, but Barcelona responded with Ferran Torres equalizing to force extra time.

In the closing stages of extra time, Jules Kounde capitalized on a rare mistake from Luka Modric, seizing the ball and scoring the decisive goal from 25 yards out, securing the victory for Barcelona.

The match was marred by controversy, including a penalty awarded to Barcelona that was overturned by VAR, and post-match chaos where Rudiger and Vazquez were shown red cards for their behavior towards the officials.

Barcelona's win sees them extend their record with a 32nd Copa del Rey title and keeps them on track for a potential treble, as they lead La Liga and are in the Champions League semifinals.

The match showcased the intense rivalry between these two football giants, with both teams displaying moments of brilliance and drama, culminating in a memorable final that will be talked about for years.

Jules Kounde was Barcelona's hero as he struck late in extra time to give the Blaugrana a thrilling 3-2 win over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.

The Clasico rivals served up an instant classic as Madrid overturned a 1-0 halftime deficit, courtesy of Pedri's fabulous opener, thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni.

But Ferran Torres forced extra time and, as penalties loomed, Kounde steered home a superb dive to seal a record-extending 32nd Copa for Barca and keep them on track for a treble success.

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Barcelona vs. Real Madrid final score

Venue: Estadio La Cartuja, Seville
Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea

Confirmed Lineups:

Barcelona (4-2-3-1, right to left): 25. Wojciech Szczesny (GK) — 23. Jules Kounde, 2. Pau Cubarsi, 5. Inigo Martinez, 35. Gerard Martin (4. Ronald Araujo) — 21. Frenkie de Jong (6. Gavi), 8. Pedri — 19. Lamine Yamal, 20. Dani Olmo (16. Fermin Lopez), 11. Raphinha — 7. Ferran Torres.

Real Madrid (4-3-1-2, right to left): 1. Thibaut Courtois (GK) — 17. Lucas Vazquez (10. Luka Modric), 35. Raul Asensio, 22. Antonio Rudiger, 23. Ferland Mendy (20. Fran Garcia) — 8. Federico Valverde, 14. Aurelien Tchouameni, 19. Dani Ceballos (15. Arda Guler) — 5. Jude Bellingham — 11. Rodrygo (9. Kylian Mbappe), 7. Vinicius Jr.

MORE: Barcelona star Raphinha opens up on accepting Saudi offer

FULLTIME: BARCELONA WIN THE COPA DEL REY!

Wow, what a night. Madrid are busy raging against all and sundry. Barca have a famous triumph and remain on course for the treble. Jules Kounde the unlikely hero after Kylian Mbappe looked like he might be a very likely hero for Madrid. Thanks for joining us, you've not heard the last of this one.

120+2 mins: Rudiger, now substituted, appears to have completely lost the plot with the referee. No idea what that's about. He appears to have thrown something at the official. For heaven's sake, grow up. He could be in big trouble for that.

120+1 mins: Into two additional minutes, Modric plays a pass through for Brahim but Szszesny comes charging out to boot clear. His team are almost there.

118 mins: Surely a penalty to Real Madrid... but the offside flag is up! The second time that's happened in the game. Brahim flipped a pass through for Mbappe, who had the Barca defence scattered until Gavi blundered into the back off him. But Brahim was indeed offside.

116 mins: GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!! Jules Kounde!!!!!!!!!

Surely that's the winner for Barca! Modric gives away a deeply uncharacteristic pass inside his own third and Kounde is onto it, striding forward and crunching home a drive from 25 yards.

115 mins: Pau Victor on for Ferran, the man who forced this additional period.

113 mins: Guler digs out a cross from the right and Bellingham is agonisingly close to getting on the end of it. Kounde did well to shackle the England midfielder.

107 mins: Fermin accelerates past Rudiger but loses his footing as he lines up a shot, which loops over.

Halftime

A Madrid corner from the right is cleared and that first half of extra time has passed largely without incident. Penalties are closing in.

104 mins: Raphinha slips a pass into the Madrid box for Ferran, who gets a shot off but it squirms across goal.

96 mins: Eric Garcia replaces Pedri to give Barca a bit more midfield ballast. Courtois comes out to mop up a cross from the right.

95 mins: It's been a pretty quiet start to extra time. Both teams are feeling the effects of their exertions. Who'll be able to get their foot back on the accelerator first?

Kickoff: 1st Half (E.T.)

Off we go again, then. Where's your money?

Fulltime

We'll need another half hour. As you can imagine, after that penalty snafu everyone is in a fantastic mood.

90+10 mins: PENALTY OVERTURNED! Bengoetxea goes back on his call and books Raphinha for diving. I'm really not sure the replays gave compelling enough evidence for that. But once officials go to the monitor, things tend to go one way.

90+8 mins: VAR REVIEW! Bengoetxea is going to the monitor. Ooofff, this feels unbearable for him given the pre-match pressure.

90+6 mins: PENALTY TO BARCELONA!!!! The referee has been in the midst of plenty of pre-match talk but that looks like a fairly stone-wall penalty. Asensio hurls himself in on Raphinha. Sure, the winger is looking for it but the Madrid centre-back obliged.

90+4 mins: Ferran looks to get past Rudiger but his feet betray him. There are some tired players out there now.

90 mins: There will be six additional minutes to find a winner or we're going to extra time.

84 mins: GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!! Ferran Torres!!!!!

What a cup final this is. Again Lamine Yamal picks out a nonsensically good pass. It tempts Courtois out of his ground and Ferran is quick. He gets there first, touches the ball around the Madrid goalkeeper and slots home a cool finish.

78 mins: Rudiger is struggling and the Madrid medical staff seem to be mummifying his leg. I guess he'll try to carry on.

77 mins: GOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Aurelien Tchouameni!!!!!!

This set piece works and Madrid have turned it around as Tchouameni powers home! Koude is ball-watchin g and no one has his hulking compatriot.

75 mins: Modric's corner is cleared back to him. The second cross goes out for a throw.

74 mins: Madrid scythe down the left flank with Mbappe and Vinicius after Bellingham picks Lamine's pocket. Vini Jr. looks for Mbappe but Cubarsi is astutely on the spot to clear behind.

70 mins: GOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Kylian Mbappe!!!!!

Free-kick sumptuously crashed beyond Szszesny by Mbappe, who has 34 goals this season. That's one more than Ronaldo in his debut Madrid campaign. The wall looked a bit of a shambles.

68 mins: Oh my, this could be about to get silly. Mbappe haring through the Barcelona defence after another Pedri giveaway. He scuffs his shot under pressure and it's a foul from De Jong. The Madrid players want him sent off but there were enough covering defenders around. Free-kick in a very dangerous spot.

65 mins: First Barca change is a straight swap, with Fermin on for Olmo.

63 mins: Corner to Madrid. Modric over it. Szczesny gets a good punch to it. Guler sends one back in to the far post for Vinicius but the flag goes up against the Turkey youngster.

62 mins: De Jong floats one over the top for Olmo but he can't bring it under his spell and Asensio shuts the door.

61 mins: End-to-end stuff now as Madrid leave themselves exposed at the back, only for Raphinha to drag wastefully wide once more.

59 mins: Vinicius flashes one just wide from the edge of the area after Pedri uncharacteristically coughs up possession. The feel of the game has definitely changed here. The next goal feels huge,

57 mins: This is a much more even half as Vinicius and Mbappe have Barcelona scrambling again but enough Blaugrana shirts get back to avert the danger.

56 mins: That means Valverde back to right-back and Barca try to take advantage of the reshuffle, with Raphinha down into that zone and driving wide.

55 mins: More changes for Madrid, with Modric and Guler coming on for Vazquez and Ceballos.

54 mins; Ball in behind for Mbappe, who gets a first chance to stretch his legs. He twists one way and the other, Cubarsi staying with him before Szczesny smothers the shot. 

50 mins: Rudiger rises to meet the corner but mis-times his jump and can't make the most of the chance.

49 mins: Bellingham slides a pass through to Vinicius and that's a fine save from Szczesny, who also deals with the follow-up.

48 mins: Pedri takes aim form outside the box again. This one isn't so good. High and wide.

2nd Half: Kickoff

The teams are back with us, and so is Kylian Mbappe, who's on in place of Rodrygo. No matter, Barca are straight back at their rivals and that man Lamine Yamal gives Courtois some early second-half work.

Halftime

Barcelona good value for their lead. They haven't created heaps of chances but they've played with authority and Pedri's opener was a pearler. Plenty to ponder for Ancelotti. How much can Mbappe's ankle stand? See you back here shortly.

45 mins+2: Drama here as Vinicius surges through from the left. Surely he's offside? Now a heavy touch and out comes Szczesny to challenge. The referee points to the spot, but then the flag goes up and VAR confirms Vini Jr. was beyond the last man.

45 mins: Five minutes to be added before the break.

43 mins: Raphinha's free-kick takes a wicked deflection off the wall. Courtois momentarily looks worried but it spins wide. Ohhhh, the corner spins all the way through from Olmo and hits the far post! Let off for Madrid.

41 mins: Olmo scampering into the Madrid box, Rudgier hurls himself to the ground to block.

37 mins: That's not so astute from Gerard Martin, who dives in on Tchouameni and is booked. That challenge came just after a fairly dicey Bellingham challenge on Olmo inside the Madrid box.

35 mins: Bellingham has the ball in the Barcelona net but knows he's offside. Gerard Martin stepped out crucially before the Englishman finished tidily. A rueful grimace follows.

28 mins: GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!! Pedri!!!!!!

Oh my word, what a way to open the scoring in the Copa del Rey final! Pedri starts the move with a raking pass to Lamine Yamal. It ends up being a long one-two as he arrives to meet the return pass first-time outside the D, sweeping a majestic strike into the top corner.

This angle of Pedri's worldie! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OoGCtvYttp

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 26, 2025

23 mins: Vinicius gets his first proper look at the Barcelona back four but the move breaks down. Ceballos fouls Lamine Yamal to hault the counter and the Barca players ask for a booking that isn't forthcoming.

21 mins: Kounde the target again for a Barca set piece and this is a better attempt that Courtois pushes over at full stretch.

19 mins: Ohhhh, close! Lamine Yamal lets fly from outside the box. He scuffs his effort but Courtois appears to be unsighted and doesn't move as the ball skids just beyond his far post.

16 mins: Barca got flying down the left and Madrid are turned around and in trouble. Valverde comes tearing back to make an excellent challenge on Ferran. He also does pretty well to avoid handling the ball as he falls to the turf.

11 mins: Garcia gets scant help as Lamine Yamal goes right for him. Welcome to the cup final! Corner to Barca, which is dealt with.

9 mins: Madrid have barely been out of their half and Ancelotti's gamble to start Mendy appeared to have backfired. He's down with a thigh injury after a good challenge on Jules Kounde. Fran Garcia is ready to join us.

3 mins: Kounde gets up to meet the corner and heads well over. In truth, he should have done better with that.

2 mins: Ferran skips past Asensio into the box and a combination of Rudiger and Tchouameni are forced to scramble behind.

1st Half: Kickoff

Barcelona get us underway.

5 mins before kickoff: Senor Burgos Bengoetxea leads the teams out. A peseta for his thoughts. The players looking all business. Flick and Ancelotti embrace before the national anthem, which is predictably given a solid booing by the Catalan contingent. Barca have won this season's Clasicos 4-0 and 5-2. Can Madrid avert another humiliation?

30 mins before kickoff: It wouldn't be El Clasico without absurd referee-based build-up. Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea is the man in the middle tonight and gave an emotional news conference when he addressed being singled out by a piece on Real Madrid TV that inferred he favoured Barcelona with his decisions. Madrid responded by boycotting some of their pre-match obligations and issued a clubs statement to deny rumours the would pull out of the game altogether. Nice, normal stuff...

1 hour before kickoff: Here's the Barca lineup, with nothing as dramatic as Mbappe being on the bench, Okay, it'd be very dramatic if Mbappe was on the Barcelona bench, You know what I mean.

Anyway, we already knew Robert Lewandowski was out and Ferran Torres leads the line as expected for the Blaugrana. There's a show of faith in youngster Gerard Martin, who gets the nod at left-back with Alejandro Balde still out.

🚨 BARÇA XI 🚨#ElClásico #CopaBarça pic.twitter.com/k7XgDyhI1F

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 26, 2025

1 hr 30 mins before kickoff: The Real Madrid team is in and Kylian Mbappe is only fit enough for a place on the bench! It means Madrid will probably revert to the system that served them so well last season, with Jude Bellingham roving as a box-crashing No.10, in between split strikers Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr.

📋✅ Our starting XI for the Copa del Rey final!
🆚 @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/gSOHMkRV0g

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 26, 2025

2 hours before kickoff. Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Barcelona against Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey. European football's biggest rivalry played out with silverware in the line. It doesn't get much better than this, you lucky devils.

The Copa del Rey final kicks off in Seville at 10 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

Robert Lewandowski is out for some time with a hamstring injury, leaving Ferran Torres to occupy the central striker position. Hansi Flick had decisions to make in the No. 10 slot behind Torres, with Dani Olmo getting the nod ahead of Gavi and Fermin Lopez.

Alejandro Balde has been unable to recover from his hamstring injury in time for this match, with Gerard Martin remaining at left-back. Balde is expected to return in time for the upcoming Champions League games in the near future.

Wojciech Szczesny will remain in goal the rest of the season, as Hansi Flick has decided not to turn back to Marc-Andre ter Stegen out of loyalty to the Poland international who came out of retirement for this role.

Barcelona (4-2-3-1, right to left): Szczesny (GK) — Kounde, Cubarsi, I. Martinez, Martin — de Jong, Pedri — Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha — F. Torres.

Injured: Balde (hamstring, doubt), Lewandowski (hamstring), Casado (knee), Bernal (ACL).
Suspended: None.

MORE: All the latest Barcelona news | All the latest Real Madrid news | Latest La Liga top goal scorer list

Real Madrid have Kylian Mbappe back for the Copa del Rey final, but the superstar forward is only fit enough for a place on the bench following his recent ankle injury.

In Mbappe's absence, it looks like Madrid will revert to their attacking shape from last season, with Jude Bellingham playing as an attacking No. 10 behind Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr.

Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who suffered a "complete tear" of his adductor against Getafe last time out and is done for the season. Ferland Mendy returns from his own lay-off and is preferred to Fran Garcia at left-back.

Real Madrid (4-3-1-2, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Valverde, Asensio, Rudiger, Mendy — Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos — Bellingham — Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr.

Injured: Camavinga (groin), Carvajal (ACL), Militao (ACL).
Suspended: None.

Here's how to watch the 2025 Copa del Rey final across selected areas of the world's major regions: