JULES KOUNDE outshone fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe as Barcelona sealed a historic Copa del Rey win over rivals Real Madrid.
The match was played following an extraordinary refereeing row, with Madrid forced to deny they would boycott the fixture.
APJules Kounde scored a brilliant winner to secure the Copa del Rey for Barcelona[/caption]
ReutersLamine Yamal and Co led early in the first half through Pedri[/caption]
APBut Kylian Mbappe turned the game on its head with a brilliant freekick[/caption]
APDespite the Frenchman’s heroics, it was his fellow countryman Kounde who stole the show[/caption]
APThe full-back’s late strike came with the game seemingly destined for penalties[/caption]
Los Blancos trailed early in the contest following a strike from Pedri at Seville’s Estadio La Cartuja.
But after the break, Madrid stormed back thanks to some inspiration from Mbappe.
The French talisman turned the game on its head with his first-ever career free-kick goal.
The 22-year-old took aim from just outside the area after being chopped down by Frenkie De Jong.
Mbappe unleashed a powerful, low, right-footed free-kick which flew in off the post.
And just minutes later, Aurelien Tchouameni headed in to put Madrid on the cusp of their 21st Copa del Rey title.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men made it to within five minutes of the whistle before they were pegged back by Ferran Torres.
The ex-Man City star was sent clear and rounded keeper Thibault Courtois to level things up.
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Barca thought they had won it late in stoppage time as Raphinha went down under a challenge from Asencio.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea initially gave the spot-kick, only to book the Brazilian for simulation after a VAR review.
Despite the time ticking past midnight in Spain, the game headed into an energy-sapping extra time.
And as time ticked towards penalties, it was Arsenal-target Kounde who proved to be the Barca hero.
He intercepted a rare loose pass from Luka Modric on the edge of the box, thundering a low strike past Courtois and sparking jubilant scenes in the Barca end.
The goal sealed the Catalan giants’ 32nd success in the competition and their first since 2021.
Saturday’s final had been dogged by reports before kick-off that Madrid would boycott the spectacle.
Referee Bengoetxea broke down in tears during an extraordinary press conference on Thursday.
The Spanish official tearfully responded to a video by Real’s in-house TV channel RMTV.
The video highlighted decisions that had gone against Real, which the club believe to have been incorrect.
Real Madrid later responded to the rumours, writing in a statement: “Our team has never considered giving up playing tomorrow’s final.
“Our club understands that the unfortunate and inappropriate statements made 24 hours before the final by the referees appointed for this match cannot taint a sporting event of global significance which will be watched by hundreds of millions of people.
“We also express our respect for all the fans who are planning to travel to Seville, and for all those already in the Andalusian capital.”
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