Barça Cup winners: This is how the Spanish and international press describe the Barça title

FC Barcelona won their 32nd Copa del Rey in a final against Real Madrid (3-2) that will be remembered for a long time. Hansi Flick's side faded after a first half where Pedri's wonder goal was the difference.

In the second half, Madrid mounted a comeback with goals from Mbappé and Tchouaméni, both preceded by refereeing favors for 'La Casa Blanca'. The forward should never have played the final, as his sending-off against Espanyol should have ruled him out on Saturday, while the midfielder escaped a very clear red card after a criminal tackle on Dani Olmo in the first half.

Fortunately, Barça reacted in time with a goal from Ferran Torres and, although they were forced into extra time after an uncalled penalty by Rüdiger on Ferran himself, they managed to secure the title thanks to a wonder goal from Jules Koundé in the dying moments of extra time (minute 116).

Copa Final: How the Spanish press headlined Barça's triumph

Mundo Deportivo: "Koundé leads Barça to glory"

• The Catalan newspaper highlights the Frenchman's wonder goal in extra time and the refereeing controversies involving De Burgos Bengoetxea and VAR that prevented Barça from winning the final in regular time against an inferior Madrid side that had reacted in the second half.

SPORT: "Champions! Koundé lays the first stone for the treble and plunges Madrid into crisis"

• SPORT also values Koundé's wonder goal, the unexpected 'Azulgrana' hero, and Barça's reaction in the final minutes after the dip in the second half. For the Catalan newspaper, the impact of the final represents a key step towards the treble and the collapse of Carlo Ancelotti's cycle at the 'White House'.

MARCA: "Koundé crowns Barça in an epic final"

• The Madrid-based newspaper praises Koundé, the best of the 'Azulgrana' defense from start to finish, as well as highlighting the individual performances of Pedri and Lamine Yamal. They also value Mbappé's contribution to the 'Merengue' reaction, insufficient to avoid another defeat in 'Clásicos'.

AS: "Barça won and football won"

• The Madrid-based newspaper considers the match balanced, with one half for each team and extra time that favored the team with more fitness and accuracy. Koundé's wonder goal, the MVP of the match, also augurs a glorious end to the season for Barça and a bitter end of an era for Ancelotti's Madrid.

Estadio Deportivo: "Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid: A monument to football with an Azulgrana crown"

• The Seville-based sports newspaper also highlights the stellar performance of Koundé, a former defender for the Andalusian team, in addition to the refereeing controversies and the scandalous reaction of Antonio Rüdiger, sent off near the end for throwing a water bottle at De Burgos Bengoetxea.

Superdeporte: "Koundé decides the most tense final in extra time"

• The Valencia newspaper highlights Koundé's performance, but also the refereeing controversies and the tense atmosphere before the final due to Madrid's complaints and the reaction of De Burgos Bengoetxea and González Fuertes, both of whom had a poor performance in the final.

ABC: "Barça, champion of the Copa del Rey in a crazy final"

• ABC highlights the difference between the first half, of absolute 'Azulgrana' dominance, and Madrid's reaction in the second half. The scoreline fluctuated according to which team was in better form and, in extra time, the best team over the 120 minutes won thanks to an unexpected hero: Jules Koundé, who has always felt at home in Seville.

El País: "A colossal final crowns the best Barça"

• The capital's newspaper also chooses Koundé as the great figure of a hard-fought match that ended with another 'Azulgrana' comeback. After a final full of controversies, but also good football, the team that deserved it most won, and the one that did things best to reach La Cartuja and celebrate the first step towards the treble.

The European press praises Barcelona and crowns Jules Koundé

In the rest of Europe, the sports press also praised the spectacle offered by Barça and Madrid, as well as the great individual performance of Jules Koundé.

L'Equipe: "Thanks to Koundé, FC Barcelona wins the Copa del Rey after an electric Clásico against Real Madrid"

• The French newspaper praises Koundé's performance, but also highlights Mbappé's impact in the second half. For 'L'Equipe', Barça could have paid dearly for their dip in the second half, but managed to react in time and win the Copa del Rey deservedly in extra time.

Gazzetta dello Sport: Inter, what's up with Barcelona? Flick wins the Copa del Rey in the 116th minute. Ancelotti, another slap in the face

• In Italy, the press warns Inter Milan about Barça's victory in extra time. For 'Gazzetta', Flick's team shows clear fatigue, but values the morale boost that winning their second title of the season represents. Furthermore, it highlights the collapse of Ancelotti's side, anticipating the end of the cycle for the man from Reggiolo.

Corriere dello Sport: Barcelona-Real Madrid, Copa del Rey final: Ancelotti defeated in extra time

• The other Italian newspaper highlights the spectacle of a final stained by pre-match controversy which was much better than expected, thanks to Madrid's reaction in the second half and the refereeing controversies. Like 'Gazzetta', the outlet writes off Ancelotti.

France24: A 115th-minute goal from Koundé gives Barcelona the Copa del Rey after beating Real Madrid 3-2

• The French newspaper praises Koundé's performance, the impact of Ancelotti's changes in the second half, and Barça's reaction in the final stretch to force extra time.

A Bola: Barcelona-R. Madrid, 3-2 p.m. Not even Mbappé could stop Barcelona winning their 32nd Copa del Rey (report)

• The Portuguese newspaper provides a summary of the individual contributions of the Clásico stars: for Barça, it names Lamine (two assists) and Koundé (winning goal) as heroes. For Madrid, it highlights the impact of Mbappé coming on. It also points out Rodrygo's poor game (the worst on his team) and Vinicius (very inaccurate), as well as a Raphinha who also wasn't sharp in finishing.

BILD: "Last-minute madness for Barça and Flick"

• The sports supplement of the German newspaper describes the match as a "thriller" resolved in favor of Flick's Barça, which already has 2 titles this season and is launching towards the treble. Jules Koundé also received praise from the German newspaper after a "wild Clásico".

The Guardian: "Barcelona win Copa del Rey after Koundé’s extra-time goal seals thrilling encounter"

• The English newspaper highlights the reactions of Barça and Madrid in a game of "two halves" settled by a wonder goal from Koundé four minutes from the end of extra time. It also alludes to the "usual controversies", regarding the reviewed penalty on Raphinha in stoppage time and other controversial decisions favoring the 'Merengue' side.

BBC Sports: "Koundé wins Copa del Rey Clásico for Barça"

• The BBC, for its part, chooses Koundé as MVP, but also criticizes the referees for "taking center stage" in the final stretch of the match with very controversial decisions, mostly favoring Real Madrid.

  The Latin American press sees Barça winning the treble

In Latin America, there were also diverse reactions to Barça's victory in the Copa del Rey. In Argentina and Mexico, the press believes the 'Azulgrana' side will be unstoppable in La Liga and the Champions League in the last month of the season.

Olé: "Barcelona beat Real Madrid in a historic final"

• The Argentine sports newspaper describes the match at La Cartuja as "a great match where everything happened". After the refereeing controversies before and during the final, Barça took the victory with a goal from Koundé 4 minutes from the end, following a great first half from the 'Azulgrana' and the 'Merengue' reaction with Mbappé on the pitch.

Dépor: "In extra time! Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 and took the Copa del Rey"

• The Peruvian sports newspaper describes the match at La Cartuja as dramatic, after 120 thrilling minutes where Jules Koundé was the hero. It also highlights the lamentable reaction from Rüdiger and the Madrid bench at the end, resulting in the sending-off of the German and Lucas Vázquez.

ESPN Argentina: "Barcelona won an epic final against Real Madrid and were crowned champions of the Copa del Rey"

• ESPN Argentina highlights the 'turnarounds' in the final's result, after a first half of 'Culé' dominance and a second half where Madrid were superior until the 80th minute. Afterwards, Barça turned it around thanks to Ferran Torres and Jules Koundé.

Globo: "What a match! Barcelona beat Real Madrid in extra time and won the Copa del Rey"

• The sports supplement of the Brazilian newspaper highlights the two comebacks that made the Copa del Rey final a match to remember. 'Globo' described the 'Azulgrana' first half as "overwhelming", although it also valued Madrid's reaction in the second half. In the end, a blatant error by Modric playing out from the back and Koundé's strike sealed Barcelona's victory.

Ovación: "Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid in Copa del Rey: Ronald Araujo won the duel against Valverde and lifted the title"

• The Uruguayan sports newspaper highlights Ronald Araujo's performance for Barça in extra time (came on in the 85th minute) and the unrewarded effort of Fede Valverde, who played from the 55th minute as a right-back. After a "very close" match, the 'Culés' won it near the end of extra time with Koundé's wonder goal.

ESPN México: "Barcelona, Champion of a dramatic Copa del Rey thanks to Koundé"

• The ESPN Mexico network names Koundé as the hero of a match where Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí also shone. For Madrid, the reaction led by Mbappé in the second half is highlighted.

 Récord (México): Treble incoming! Barcelona secures the Copa del Rey after beating Real Madrid

• The Mexican sports newspaper sees Barça launching towards the treble after an epic victory in extra time. It also highlights the changing nature of a match that had one half for each team and a dramatic extra time, where Jules Koundé avoided penalties with a wonder goal.

In the United States, they already see Barça winning the treble

Sports Illustrated: "Barcelona takes the first step towards the treble with their Copa del Rey final victory against Real Madrid".

• The specialized portal believes the final launches Barça towards a magical end to the season, crowns Pedri as the best footballer currently, and condemns Carlo Ancelotti's farewell from the 'Merengue' bench.