A Jules Kounde aim within the dying minutes of additional time handed Barcelona a dramatic 3-2 win over fierce rivals Actual Madrid in an enthralling Copa del Rey closing in a raucous environment at Seville’s La Cartuja stadium on Saturday.
FC Barcelona’s Jules Kounde celebrates scoring their third aim with teammates(REUTERS)
Barca gained a document extending thirty second Spanish Cup title because of a surprising strike from the French defender, who slotted in a low drive into the underside nook from 25 yards within the 116th minute.
Pedri put them forward within the twenty eighth minute with an excellent curling strike into the highest nook from exterior the field in a first-half dominated by Barca.
Nonetheless, Actual took management within the second half as Kylian Mbappe, who was absent from the beginning XI as he has but to regain full health from an ankle damage, got here off the bench to attain the equaliser from a free kick within the seventieth minute.
Aurelien Tchouameni gave Actual Madrid the lead seven minutes later with a towering header from a nook earlier than Ferran Torres discovered the equaliser in a counter assault within the 84th minute that took the sport to further time.
Simply when it appeared just like the title must be settled in a penalty shootout, Kounde lastly scored the winner that earned Barca a title that gave German supervisor Hansi Flick his first main title with Barca, crowning an excellent season through which they’re additionally bidding for the LaLiga and Champions League titles.
“It was a good time to give the fans something to cheer about. Let’s enjoy it, but don’t overdo it because the Champions League semi-finals are coming up in a few days,” participant of the match Ferran Torres informed TVE.
“Happy and tired. Without a doubt, it was the most physically demanding game I’ve played in my life. But we’re a great team who never gives up.
“It tastes higher that approach, particularly when it is Actual Madrid in entrance of us.”
It was a nail-biting, ill-tempered encounter fueled by Friday’s turmoil ignited after Actual Madrid determined to boycott pre-match actions in protest in opposition to the Spanish FA’s refereeing.
Last official Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who had given an emotional pre-match press convention on Friday, was confronted with a collection of difficult selections, together with an extra-time penalty for Barcelona that was ultimately overturned following a prolonged VAR overview.
Barcelona dominated the primary half, with Pedri opening the scoring within the twenty eighth minute with a wonderful curling shot into the highest nook. Torres additionally had a header hit the put up simply earlier than half-time, marking a one-sided first half through which Actual Madrid, missing in type, have been lucky to solely be trailing by a single aim.
In an try to swing the momentum, Ancelotti introduced on Mbappe from the bench to exchange the ineffectual Rodrygo. The French ahead modified the dynamic of the sport, creating quite a few issues for Barcelona together with his high-paced mixtures with Vinicius Jr.
Regardless of two clear probabilities from Vinicius Jr. being denied by gorgeous saves from Wojciech Szczesny, Mbappe managed to search out the again of the online within the 69th minute with a low strike from a free kick.
Simply as Barcelona gave the impression to be on the backfoot and Actual Madrid have been gaining management, Torres equalised within the 83rd minute. This set the stage for a dramatic conclusion, with Barcelona securing the winner to the euphoria of their followers.
The match ended on a bitter word for Actual Madrid, as Antonio Ruediger and Lucas Vazquez, each on the bench after being substituted earlier, acquired crimson playing cards for dissent from the sidelines.