Another season low point…
Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (Mbappé & Tchouaméni). No Copa for Los Blancos. Here is the immediate reaction to the final. On the way: Player ratings, interviews and a podcast.
There had been plenty of lows so far this season – and a cup final was a huge opportunity to salvage something for Real Madrid. This issue was that it was against Barcelona, a puzzle that Los Blancos had not been able to solve of late, no matter how hard they tried. Kylian Mbappé would not start the game either, with Dani Ceballos taking up a space in midfield. Lucas Vázquez captained the team again.
✅ Our starting XI for the Copa del Rey final!
@FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/gSOHMkRV0g— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) April 26, 2025
The first half started even enough, but Barcelona quickly began to look stronger. Raphinha was in good form, and Thibaut Courtois had to make some basic saves – but overall there was not much difference between the two sides. That was, until Barcelona took the lead. Lamine Yamal found Pedri who did the rest, finding the top corner from distance to make Real Madrid’s challenge even graver. Half-time, 1-0.
Forgive me for pessimism but I have little-to-no confidence in Real Madrid until it fixes its wing-back situation. Especially in games like this. Would be thrilled to be proven wrong.
— Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) April 26, 2025
Madrid showed some fight in the second half, with Vinícius Júnior missing a double chance to equalise, before Kylian Mbappé came on a missed a chance of his own. Barcelona still looked a threat on the break though, as Raphinha shot just wide. Mbappé then stood up when we needed him most, burying a free-kick into the bottom corner after winning it so expertly moments prior. Vinícius Júnior then almost made it 2-1, just failing to set up the Frenchman for his second. Madrid went ahead when Aurélien Tchouaméni scored from a corner to cement his sides second half dominance. Lamine Yamal tried to respond for Barcelona, but Thibaut Courtois was on hand to produce an amazing save. Barcelona then equalised with a simple ball over the top slicing the defence, before Ferran Torres rounded the keeper to score. Barcelona could have had a penalty after a rash Raúl Asencio lunge, but there was not enough contact on Raphinha to merit a spot kick. Full-time, 2-2 – and extra time was required to help decide a winner.
I’m sorry but we all need to donate our lungs to Fede Valverde it’s the least we can do because what he does on the field is just absurd
— Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) April 26, 2025
Real Madrid continued to fight during the first-half of extra-time, but it was their rivals that had the best chance to score when Ferran Torres shot just wide. Much of the same could be said about the second period, but things went wrong when Jules Kounde picked up on a poor pass to score an accurate low strike. This was enough to hand Barcelona the win, and hand Madrid another blow for the season. 3-2, after extra time. What did you think about the game?
