Barcelona clinched the Copa del Rey title after a thrilling 3:2 extra-time victory over Real Madrid at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville.

The final began with evenly matched play, but it was Barcelona who struck first in the 28th minute. After a swift counterattack, Lamine Yamal smartly set up Pedri, who fired a powerful shot from outside the box to make it 1:0.

Earlier, in the 11th minute, Real Madrid were forced into an early substitution as Ferland Mendy came off injured, replaced by Fran García. Shortly after, Yamal tested Courtois with a dangerous diagonal shot that narrowly missed the target.

Barcelona continued to press and nearly doubled their lead in the 21st minute. From a free-kick, Jules Koundé rose highest to head towards goal, but Thibaut Courtois pulled off a brilliant save.
Seven minutes later, Barcelona's persistence paid off. Following a quick attack, Yamal picked out Pedri, who unleashed a fierce shot from the edge of the area to open the scoring.

Towards the end of the first half, Barcelona came close again as a corner delivery deflected off the post after bypassing everyone. In stoppage time, Vinícius Júnior broke through on goal and was brought down inside the box, but VAR intervened to rule the move offside, canceling the penalty.

At the start of the second half, Barcelona threatened again, with Raphinha trying his luck from distance, but Courtois comfortably saved.

Real Madrid immediately responded — Vinícius found himself one-on-one with Szczęsny, who saved both the initial shot and the rebound. In the 57th minute, the Brazilian once more tested the Polish keeper, but Szczęsny stood firm.

Two minutes later, Vinícius curled a dangerous shot just wide. In the 70th minute, Kylian Mbappé equalized with a brilliantly executed free-kick that struck the inside of the post before finding the net — 1:1.

Seven minutes later, Real Madrid completed the turnaround. Following a well-taken corner, Aurélien Tchouaméni rose above the defense and powered a header past Szczęsny to make it 2:1.

Barcelona refused to give in. In the 82nd minute, Yamal once again delivered a brilliant pass, setting up Ferran Torres, who rounded Courtois and slotted into an empty net for 2:2.

In stoppage time, Barcelona were awarded a penalty for a foul on Raphinha, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned as the referee deemed Raphinha to have simulated, issuing him a yellow card.

The first half of extra time passed without major chances, though Ferran Torres had a goal ruled out for offside in the 107th minute.

Ten minutes later came the decisive blow. Luka Modrić lost the ball while trying to play out from the back, and Koundé capitalized, firing a precise shot into the bottom right corner to give Barcelona a 3:2 lead.

In the dying moments, Real Madrid thought they had a lifeline when a penalty was awarded for a foul on Mbappé. However, VAR once again intervened, spotting an offside in the build-up and canceling the decision, sealing Barcelona's triumph. |BGNES