Jules Kounde scored a stunning extra-time goal as Barcelona defeated Real Madrid to win the Copa del Rey in an unforgettable Clasico held in Seville.
After a 2-2 draw in regulation time, with penalties seeming inevitable, the Barcelona defender seized the ball from 22 yards out and struck a powerful shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Barcelona dominated the first half and took the lead with a fantastic first-time strike from Pedri, who scored from outside the box after receiving a cut-back from Lamine Yamal.
Real Madrid significantly improved after Kylian Mbappe came on as a substitute. He scored a curling free-kick—awarded to him after being fouled—that found the corner of the net via the inside of the post.
Aurelien Tchouameni then gave Real the lead with a header from an Arda Guler corner kick.
However, Barcelona equalized when Ferran Torres ran onto a long ball from Yamal, rounded goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, and slotted the ball into the net.
Hansi Flick’s team thought they had a chance to win in injury time when they were awarded a penalty for a tackle by Raul Asencio on Raphinha. However, the decision was overturned after a lengthy review by the video assistant referee.
This meant the match went into extra time, where Kounde’s fourth goal of the season proved to be the decisive factor.
The lead-up to the match was marked by scrutiny of the officiating, and it concluded with Antonio Rudiger and Lucas Vazquez both receiving straight red cards while on the Real bench.
This Clasico was the first final between the two clubs in a major tournament since 2014, when Gareth Bale scored a dramatic late winner for Real in a 2-1 victory.
