In a fiery El Clásico showdown, Barcelona triumphed over arch-rivals Real Madrid in a 3-2 victory to lift the Copa del Rey in a match filled with drama, five goals, and three red cards. The win completed a hat-trick of victories for Barça over Real this season, with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal boldly declaring before the match: “Real won’t be able to beat us this year.”
The final, held at Sevilla’s La Cartuja Stadium, was anything but one-sided. Barcelona struck first with Pedri’s first-half goal, only for Aurélien Tchouaméni to equalize for Real. Kylian Mbappé then put Los Blancos ahead, but Ferran Torres leveled just before halftime, sending the game into extra time.
The decisive moment came in the 116th minute, when Jules Koundé fired home the winner, sealing a 3-2 victory for the Blaugrana. The French defender wasn’t just the hero with his goal he also made two crucial defensive interventions to deny Real in extra time.
Yamal’s Confidence Proved Right
Before the match, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal had confidently told teammate Ronald Araujo: “If they score one, no problem. Even if they score two, they still won’t handle us this year.”
After the game, the 17-year-old stood by his words, saying: “I told Araujo at the hotel today Real won’t be able to stop us. I proved it, and now I’m very happy.”
Barcelona had already dominated Real twice this season 4-0 in La Liga at the Bernabéu and 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final. This latest win reinforced Barça’s psychological edge over their rivals.
Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was full of praise for his players, saying: “They fought with everything. It’s incredible they never gave up. We’re all proud of this team. They deserve this victory.”
He singled out Koundé for special praise: “What Jules did was unbelievable. He stopped two big chances for Real and then scored the winner. Incredible!”
But Flick isn’t satisfied yet. With Barcelona leading La Liga by four points and in the Champions League semifinals, he has his sights set on a historic treble:
“There are still two more trophies to fight for. The fans were amazing today celebrating all the way. We’ll enjoy this, rest well, and then go for the next challenge. We have a great chance to win it all, but we must keep working hard.”
What’s Next?
Barcelona’s third straight win over Real Madrid this season sends a strong message. With the La Liga title in their grasp and the Champions League still up for grabs, the Catalans are dreaming of a historic season.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid must regroup quickly their hopes of a domestic double are over, and the pressure is on to respond in the remaining competitions.
One thing is certain: El Clásico never fails to deliver drama, and this chapter was no different. Barcelona’s young stars, led by Yamal and Pedri, have announced their dominance. Now, the question is can anyone stop them?