Barça: Cup winners against Madrid, the referees, the VAR, and off to the treble!

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid played a final marred by controversy in La Cartuja. Real Madrid forced extra time with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni, while the Blaugrana did the same with goals from Pedri and Ferran Torres. In the end, a great goal by Jules Koundé gave the victory to the Culés in Seville and their 32nd title in the tournament.

Madrid, lacking football, wanted to tilt the balance in their favor beforehand with an embarrassing pressure on the referees. The scandal of the pre-match press conference by De Burgos Bengoetxea (main) and González Fuertes (VAR) diverted attention beforehand, but finally, everything ended in a historic ridicule that, as feared, conditioned the outcome of the match.

And, between forgiven expulsions and unsanctioned penalties, the referees achieved what Florentino Pérez and the 'cavern' expected: an adulterated final and full of inexplicable decisions, but that's simply what there is in Spanish football, there's no other way.

Without Kylian Mbappé in the starting eleven, Carlo Ancelotti's side opted for a conservative scheme, a kind of 4-4-2 to try to stop the Blaugrana midfield, while Hansi Flick used his gala XI to go for his third consecutive Clásico and the first firm step towards the treble.

The plan of the Catalan team was executed to perfection from the start, with the defensive line well advanced and high pressure to suffocate the 'merengue' exit. In the end, a great goal from Koundé made the difference for the Catalans in extra time.

Overwhelming dominance of Barça in the first minutes

Barça didn't take long to hurt the 'merengues' on the flanks. Lucas Vázquez should have been cautioned in the 5th minute after a hard tackle on Raphinha, but De Burgos Bengoetxea didn't want to caution the Madrid captain. Three minutes later, Ferland Mendy was injured when competing for the ball with Jules Koundé.

The Frenchman reappeared after a month and a half out, but only lasted 8 minutes. Fran García came on in his place and, in the first one-on-one with Lamine Yamal, was easily surpassed by the '19', in a dribble that ended in a corner for the Culés. The player from Mataró came close to scoring in the 19th minute with a left-footed shot that passed very close to the post.

A couple of minutes earlier, a dribble by Raphinha on the left caused a handball in the area by Fede Valverde, but the contact was not punishable as it was the supporting arm of the Uruguayan midfielder. With Madrid against the ropes, Courtois made his first big save in the 21st minute, sending a powerful header by Koundé to the corner.

Pedri rubbed the lamp after a great play with Lamine Yamal

Pedri and Lamine Yamal, celebrating Barça's 1-0 in the final

The Whites were finding it increasingly difficult to string together four consecutive passes, although Fran García had the first clear opportunity with a shot from the side blocked opportunely by Koundé. In the 28th minute, Madrid put together a very dangerous counter-attack with Jude Bellignham, but Cubarsí appeared to cut off the pass between the lines of the Englishman.

The central defender's cut left the ball to Pedri, who took the opportunity to play a long pass to Lamine. The winger masterfully controlled the ball and, seeing the 'merengue' defense retreating to their area, waited for the arrival of another teammate to release the ball. Up to four white players went for the '19' to prevent his dribble.

Who appeared completely alone on the edge of the area? Pedri himself, who crossed the entire midfield and, unmarked, took a placed shot first time, directly into the top corner, impossible for Courtois. A great goal orchestrated by the most talented footballers of a Barça playing at ease in La Cartuja.

Barça deserved a larger advantage at halftime

After 1-0, Tchouaméni released the 'merengue' frustration with a very ugly tackle on Dani Olmo. This time, De Burgos Bengoetxea could not forgive the caution, although the red card, as in another previous tackle by Ceballos on Lamine, was scandalous.

Bellingham scored a goal clearly offside in the 35th minute, while Gerard Martín saw the yellow card after cutting a counterattack from Madrid. Before, Barça had claimed a possible penalty by Ceballos on Cubarsí, but González Fuertes did not notice anything from the VAR. The broadcast also did not show the images of the grab to avoid fueling the controversy.

The player from Terrassa came close to an Olympic goal in the 44th minute, after a corner from the left that Ferran Torres failed to head. The ball hit the crossbar, with Courtois covered by two 'merengue' defenders.

In stoppage time, there was a penalty by Iñigo on Vinicius, but the '7', luckily, started his run with his back to Koundé in an offside position. De Burgos whistled the foul, but the VAR warned him of the Brazilian's offside. After 5 minutes of added time, the teams went to the dressing room with the partial 1-0.

In general terms, Barça was clearly superior in the first half of the Cup final against a Madrid that ended up with just one shot off target before halftime. The Culés registered 9 shots, 4 of them on target, demanding Courtois on a couple of occasions. Possession was 63% in favor of Flick's side, who also had 5 corners in their favor and only 1 against.

Szczesny responded with a double save to Vinicius

After the break, Ancelotti put Mbappé in place of a disappeared Rodrygo. The Frenchman had been warming up since the 35th minute, but waited until the second half to come on so as not to exhaust another change window, after Mendy's injury.

The entry of 'Kiki' gave another air to Madrid, with Vini alternating positions with the Frenchman. The Brazilian tested Szczesny's reflexes in the 51st minute after a good pass from Bellingham, where the Pole prevented the fall of his goal with two spectacular saves.

Mbappé had another dangerous chance a minute later, but Szczesny again quickly closed to prevent the '9's shot. Barça suffered in the initial quarter of an hour of the second half, although they had a clear counterattack opportunity wasted by Raphinha.

'Carletto' tilted the team in attack with the entries of Luka Modric and Arda Güler for Dani Ceballos and Lucas Vázquez. Valverde moved to the side and, with the Croatian, Madrid improved a lot in midfield, but also conceded more spaces.

Mbappé and Tchouaméni turned the scoreboard around

Since then, the Cup final became a very intense back and forth. Raphinha forgave again in the 60th minute after a great run by Olmo. The '11' again crossed his shot too much, perhaps rushing too much instead of settling better.

Five minutes later, Hansi Flick made his first change, putting Fermín López in place of Dani Olmo. However, Barça continued to suffer in midfield and, in the 68th minute, a foul by De Jong on the edge of the area led to a very dangerous free kick for Madrid.

The Whites claimed a red card for the Dutchman, but Frenkie was not the last man. Nor was it a clear chance, although the '9' was close to entering the area. Mbappé took charge of the free kick, with a placed shot that, after hitting the post, defeated Szczesny's resistance.

After the equalizer, Barça continued to have a very bad time at the back. Gerard Martín and Jules Koundé had many problems stopping the 'merengue' attacks. In the 77th minute, a corner from the right served by Arda Güler found the head of Tchouaméni, who, unmarked, took the opportunity to score the partial 1-2.

Ferran Torres' opportunism woke up Barça

Ferran Torres, in the play of Barça's second goal

Barça, after the blow of the second 'merengue' goal, reacted with a shot by Lamine that demanded a great save from Courtois. A couple of minutes later, Yamal played a filtered pass from the center of the field and Ferran managed to beat a somewhat lame Rüdiger in the race.

Courtois came out desperately to try to clear, but left his goal empty and the 'Shark', in speed, took the opportunity to define with a crossed shot. Flick already had Gavi and Héctor Fort ready to come on for Martín and De Jong, but finally, it was Ronald Araujo who entered with the Andalusian.

When Barcelona was at its worst, the team again drew on character to react. Madrid felt the wear and tear in the final stretch and Vinicius left in the 89th minute due to a muscle problem. Brahim Díaz came on in his place.

Added time, full of controversy

In stoppage time, with Barça more physically fit, the VAR and De Burgos Bengoetxea were protagonists. First, Ferran claimed a penalty by Rüdiger, but beyond the German's contact on his front right foot, the referees considered that the '7' exaggerated the fall.

Then, in the 90+5, the most scandalous moment of the Cup final arrived. In principle, the main referee sanctioned a foul by Asencio on Raphinha inside the area, when the '11' was about to shoot, but González Fuertes, from the VOR room, called him to review the action.

Finally, the Basque referee reversed the call, cautioning the Blaugrana player for simulation. It was the last thing of the match, with which the 30 minutes of extra time had to be played.

Jules Koundé, the hero of Barça in extra time

Jules Koundé, celebrando el gol de la victoria

The match slowed down in extra time, logically, after 90 minutes of high intensity. Flick put Eric García in the 99th minute for a totally exhausted Pedri. Afterwards, Ferran had the only clear chance for the Culés just before halftime, with a crossed shot that almost ended in a goal. Courtois acted like a statue, with no room for reaction.

In the second extra time, the 'Shark' scored a goal in a clear offside position, while Fermín warned with a shot to the roof of the goal. Barça seemed to have more oxygen than Real Madrid after an exhausting final. 

Ancelotti surprised with the entry of Endrick for Rüdiger, who practically played walking since the 78th minute. With no more central defenders available, with the exception of the sidelined Vallejo, the Italian put a forward to go for the victory.

However, it was Barcelona who broke the deadlock. After a poor pass from Luka Modric in the 116th minute, Jules Koundé appeared to steal the ball in midfield. With time and space, the Frenchman unleashed a perfect, low shot that Courtois couldn't match, becoming the unlikely hero who gave the Catalans their 32nd Copa del Rey.

Match details: FC Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid

• FC Barcelona, ​​3: Szczesny; Koundé, Cubarsí, Íñigo Martínez, Gerard Martín (Ronald Araujo, min. 84), Pedri (Erc García, min. 99), De Jong (Gavi, min. 84), Olmo (Fermín, min. 65), Lamine Yamal, Raphina and Ferran Torres (Pau Víctor, min. 115).
• Real Madrid, 2: Courtois; Lucas Vázquez (Luka Modric, min. 54), Asencio, Rüdiger (Endrick, min. 109), Ferland Mendy (min. 10, Fran García); Dani Ceballos (Arda Güler, min. 54), Tchouaméni, Fede Valverde, Jude Bellingham; Rodrygo (Mbappé, min. 46) and Vinicius Jr. (Brahim, min. 89).
• Goals: 1-0, Pedri González (min. 28); 1-1, Kylian Mbappé (min. 70); 1-2, Aurélien Tchouaméni (min. 77); 2-2, Ferran Torres (min. 84); 3-2, Jules Koundé (min. 116).
• Referee: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea. He booked Aurélien Tchouaméni, Luka Modric, and Jude Bellingham for Real Madrid. He also gave two clear red cards to Tchouaméni and Dani Ceballos. For Barça, he cautioned Gerard Martín, Frenkie de Jong, Fermín López, and Raphinha. In stoppage time, he overlooked a clear penalty on Ferran Torres and disallowed a previously awarded penalty on Raphinha. In extra time, near the end, he sent off Antonio Rüdiger and Lucas Vázquez for their complaints from the bench.
• Stadium: La Cartuja (Seville).
• Match Details: Match corresponding to the 2024-25 Copa del Rey final.