Credit: ESPN

Barcelona’s Copa del Rey Triumph: A Testament to Their Dominance Over Real Madrid

SEVILLE, Spain — In a thrilling display of football prowess, Lamine Yamal confidently declared that Real Madrid simply cannot handle Barcelona this season. This bold statement came after Hansi Flick’s side staged a remarkable comeback to defeat their Clásico rivals and clinch the Copa del Rey on Saturday.

The match was nothing short of a rollercoaster, with Barça defender Jules Koundé delivering a dramatic 116th-minute winner. This came after Ferran Torres had taken the final into extra time with a late goal. The victory marked Barça’s third triumph over Madrid this season, following a 4-0 LaLiga win at the Bernabéu in October and a 5-2 Spanish Supercopa final victory in January. The two teams are set to meet again in the league on May 11.

Yamal, who is just 17 years old, played a pivotal role in Barça’s first two goals. He set up Pedri for the opener and then assisted Torres for the equalizer after Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni had given Madrid the lead. Koundé then intercepted a Luka Modric pass and fired in the winner, sealing yet another comeback win for Barça in 2025. This victory adds to their impressive list of turnarounds against Benfica, Atlético Madrid, and Celta Vigo.

In a post-match news conference, Flick praised his team’s resilience and determination. “They are fighting for everything,” he said, highlighting the team’s never-say-die attitude. “It’s really unbelievable, they didn’t give up. Everyone is proud of this team. They deserved it. It was a huge win tonight.”

Flick was particularly impressed with Koundé’s performance, noting his crucial role in extra time. “Jules, in extra time, he saved two chances from Real and he made the goal. It’s unbelievable, it’s really unbelievable,” Flick said. “All the players in the defense make a fantastic job. The mentality Jules has when he scores the goal, right moment, right position and fantastic shot. He’s crazy. And also one player more who never gives up.”

As the season progresses, Barça is eyeing a potential treble. They currently lead Madrid at the top of LaLiga by four points ahead of next month’s Clásico and are set to face Inter Milan in the semifinals of the Champions League. Flick believes that the Copa success will boost his team’s confidence as they aim for more silverware, though he remains cautious about looking too far ahead. “There are two matches to go for that still,” he added. “Today was great. The atmosphere the whole day was really fantastic. When you arrive, the fans around the street, celebrate you, really happy.”

Flick also expressed his gratitude to the fans, who created an electric atmosphere in the stadium. “Also in the stadium, the atmosphere was unbelievable and at the end I would say I am really happy for the fans that we can celebrate a huge win against Real Madrid in the Copa final. It’s great for everyone and gives us confidence maybe for more.”