Kounde is established in the exciting and ardent final to keep the dream of treble alive

Barcelona remains ongoing for the acute after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in a notable final of the Copa del Rey.

There had been talk of Madrid boycotting the final due to dissatisfaction with the appointment of the referee and the official VAR, and there would be many controversial decisions in a classic masterpiece in Seville.

Barça took the lead with an impressive Pedri long -range opener, but the introduction of Kylian Mbappe, who had lost the last two league games with an ankle injury, changed the course in favor of Madrid.

He leveled with a free kick of 70 minutes before Aurelien Tchouameni drove them ahead, just for Ferran Torres to level out with a wonderfully compound finish.

Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea placed himself in the center of attention when he pointed out the penalty spot in the 96th minute after Raphinha fell under a challenge by Raul Asencio, only to reverse his decision after a VAR review.

But Barça made sure that an exciting contest was not resolved with the penalties, Jules Kounde, the unlikely source of a 116 -minute winner, since he secured a record of a Copa del Rey title, although the conclusion was spoiled like Antonio Rudiger of Madrid was sent by launching an object to the refund of the handle in the second place. Lucas Vázquez was also expelled for his part in the incident.

The Cup is ours! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wlcjstag6y

– FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona) April 26, 2025

Barcelona at Real Madrid

Barça forced Thibaut Courtois to a crucial salvation in the 21st minute when the Belgian turned Kounde’s header against the carpentry and after the defender of France rose to meet the free kick in Raphinha.

But only seven minutes later, Barça took the lead sublime with a goal that started when Pau Cubarsi made an excellent interception to stop a Madrid counter.

Pedri collected the loose ball and played a perfect long pass to the right wing for Lamine Yamal, who made his way through the byline before finding a gap between three defenders of Madrid to leave the ball for the onruscante Pedri, who beat Courtois with a wonderful blow in the upper left corner.

Jude Bellingham seemed to have found a quick response, just for his short distance strike to be discarded offside. After Dani Olmo was close to scoring directly from one corner at the other end, Madrid was denied a penalty for the same reason when Vinicius Junior fell into the area.

Carlo Ancelotti made the decision to launch Mbappe after the break, and proved to be instrumental, providing Madrid with an attack impulse that was dazzlingly absent in the first half.

Even so, Madrid was frustrated since Vinicius was denied twice by Wojciech Szczesny, and the Brazilian striker was later guilty of too much doubts after another opening created largely because Mbappe’s threat went to beg.

But Mbappe said that the very better performance of the second half of Madrid had dividends after Frenkie de Jong received it on the edge of the area. Madrid seemed that Jong’s Furious was not expelled, but Mbappe still demanded a punishment with an excellent free kick that flew in the post.

And seven minutes later the change was completed, Tchouameni rises for the free kick of Power Arda Gular beyond a helpless Szczesny.

However, there would be another turn in the story, one that was foreshadowed when Yamal forced Courtois to a diving with a flexion effort.

It was Yamal who would again provide assistance when Barça was spectacularly level, his perfectly heavy lofty pass by the controlled right magnificently controlled by Torres, who indifferently stroked the ball home after rounding Courtois.

Then, Barça seemed to be on the verge of completing the change when Bengoetxea risked the fury of Madrid granting a penalty since Asencio seemed to tear down Raphinha. However, a trip to the Pitchsis monitor, preceded by the protests in Madrid, changed his mind.

Even so, Barça was the strongest side in extra time and, although Torres let two presentable opportunities be begging, they finally found the winner since Kound’s Drive proved to be too powerful for the tired and desperate immersion of Courtois.

There was still time for the approach to turn to the referee, who rightly gave Rudiger and Vázquez his march orders after unpleasant scenes that were far from being consistent with a spell contest.