Barcelona Beats Real Madrid 3–2 in Extra Time to Win the 2025 Copa del Rey

On April 26, 2025, at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, Barcelona and Real Madrid delivered one of the most dramatic Copa del Rey finals in recent memory. After an intense battle, Barcelona triumphed 3–2 after extra time, lifting the trophy for the 32nd time in club history.

The match started cautiously, with both sides carefully probing each other. Gradually, however, Barcelona took control. Young sensation Lamine Yamal once again showed maturity beyond his years, setting up Pedri for the opening goal midway through the first half. Pedri calmly slotted the ball past Thibaut Courtois, reflecting Barcelona's growing dominance.

Real Madrid came out stronger in the second half. Their pressing game intensified, and in the 70th minute, Kylian Mbappé scored a brilliant free-kick to level the match. Minutes later, Madrid turned the game around — Arda Güler delivered a perfect corner, and Aurélien Tchouaméni smashed the ball home to make it 2–1.

Despite the setback, Barcelona showed remarkable resilience. In the 84th minute, Lamine Yamal again took charge, providing a perfect assist for Ferran Torres, who fired the equalizer past Courtois to bring the score to 2–2.

As the tension peaked, one of the most controversial moments of the final unfolded. In the 90+6th minute, Raphinha charged into the Madrid penalty area and went down under minimal contact. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, and Raphinha was shown a yellow card for simulation. The incident triggered furious protests from Barcelona players and sparked widespread debate among fans and pundits.

With the match tied at full-time, extra time followed. Both teams were cautious, knowing that any mistake could be fatal. As penalties loomed, Barcelona found their winning moment. In the 116th minute, after a costly error by Luka Modrić inside his own penalty area, Jules Koundé pounced and sent the ball into the net to make it 3–2.

Real Madrid launched desperate attacks in the final minutes, but Barcelona held firm. Adding to Madrid’s misery, Antonio Rüdiger — who was on the bench — received a red card for dissent in stoppage time.

This dramatic victory not only secured another Copa del Rey title for Barcelona but also showcased the club's promising new generation. Players like Lamine Yamal proved they could lead the team in the biggest moments. For Real Madrid, it was a painful reminder that even the smallest mistakes can cost dearly on the grandest stage.

Published by Patrick Jane
27.04.2025