Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium was a cauldron of noise on April 26, 2025, as Barcelona clawed out a 3-2 extra-time victory over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final. It wasn’t just a win—it was a gut-punch statement. Barcelona’s squad, battered by injuries and under the steely gaze of coach Hansi Flick, showed a unity that left their rivals looking like a team unraveling at the seams.
The match was a brutal, seesaw affair. Barcelona struck first through Pedri in the 28th minute, his sharp finish slicing through Madrid’s defense. Real Madrid, reeling from a season of heavy losses to their archrivals, answered back. Kylian Mbappé, fresh off an injury and starting on the bench, leveled the score in the 70th minute. Seven minutes later, Aurélien Tchouaméni’s header put Madrid ahead, threatening to flip the script. But Barcelona, fueled by something deeper than tactics, refused to break. Ferran Torres, stepping up in the absence of star striker Robert Lewandowski, equalized in the 84th minute. Then, in the 116th minute, Jules Koundé—more known for his defensive grit than his shooting—unleashed a 25-yard rocket to seal the win. The blaugranes’ bench erupted, players and staff spilling onto the pitch like a family reunited.
Barcelona’s victory, their 32nd Copa del Rey title, wasn’t just about goals. It was about a squad that played like they’d die for each other. Lewandowski, sidelined with a hamstring injury from a April 19 LaLiga match against Celta Vigo, watched from the stands. So did Alejandro Balde and Marc Casado, both nursing injuries. Yet the team didn’t flinch. Flick’s men, led by young guns like Lamine Yamal and a rejuvenated Torres, moved as one. The German coach, who banned celebrations to keep focus on upcoming Champions League and LaLiga battles, had instilled a discipline that shone through. Over 26,000 Barcelona fans, many traveling by train and bus from Catalonia, roared their approval, their chants drowning out the 57,600-strong crowd.
Real Madrid, by contrast, looked like a team at war with itself. The final whistle brought chaos. Antonio Rüdiger and Lucas Vázquez, both substituted earlier, were shown red cards for dissent from the sidelines. Jude Bellingham, Madrid’s golden boy, joined them with a post-match red for unsportsmanlike conduct. The meltdown capped a week of turmoil. On April 25, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea broke down in tears at a press conference, stung by criticism from Real Madrid’s in-house TV channel over his past calls. Madrid’s players, despite their star-studded lineup—Mbappé, Vinícius Jr., Bellingham—couldn’t match Barcelona’s cohesion. Coach Carlo Ancelotti, already under fire after a Champions League exit to Arsenal, made bold calls, like benching Mbappé and subbing Rüdiger for young striker Endrick in extra time. They backfired. Madrid’s 12 losses across all competitions this season, compared to just two last year, laid bare their disarray.
The numbers tell a stark story. Barcelona, top of LaLiga with 66 points, have lost just once in 2025. They’ve thrashed Madrid twice this season—a 4-0 league win in October and a 5-2 Spanish Super Cup rout in January—scoring nine goals to Madrid’s two in those clashes. Madrid, trailing by four points in the league, have now lost three straight Clásicos. Their 20th Copa del Rey title remains out of reach, while Barcelona’s record-extending 32nd sits proudly in their cabinet.
In Seville, it wasn’t just a trophy that changed hands. Barcelona’s players embraced on the pitch, their bond palpable. Madrid’s, meanwhile, slunk off, their red cards and bickering a symbol of a season slipping away. The 260th competitive Clásico showed one team united, the other fractured. Another showdown looms on May 11 in LaLiga. For now, Barcelona’s unity reigns supreme.