Treble chase begins for Barca after edging Madrid in Copa final

SEVILLE, Spain — Barcelona's bid for the treble is off the mark after the Catalan giant edged Real Madrid 3-2 in a thrilling Copa del Rey final through a Jules Kounde extra-time winner on Saturday.

Right-back Kounde pounced on a misplaced pass by Luka Modric and fired low into the corner of Thibaut Courtois' net for the 116th-minute decider.

Barcelona will carry the momentum from its record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title into Wednesday's Champions League semifinal first leg against Inter Milan. It also leads La Liga, four points ahead of Madrid.

Pedri dictated the game for Barcelona from midfield, and scored from long range to take a 28th minute-lead at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville.

Barcelona dominated and controlled possession in the first half, with its pressure defense quick to recover the ball.

The only semblance of a Madrid attack came when Jude Bellingham was able to spin away from his marker.

But, a Bellingham pass, intercepted by Pau Cubarsi, cued Barcelona's opener.

Pedri lobbed forward for Lamine Yamal, breaking down the flank. The 17-year-old phenom — sporting a new dyed-blonde hairdo — threaded a pass back to the top of the box, where Pedri arrived to blast it home.

Madrid rallied with two second-half goals, with Kylian Mbappe coming off the bench at halftime and scoring from a freekick in the 70th minute, and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni heading home in the 77th making it 2-1.

Mbappe started the game on the sideline after injuring his ankle last week. But, Carlo Ancelotti sent his striker on at halftime to replace Rodrygo. Modric and playmaker Arda Guler soon followed.

Ferran Torres gave Barca an 84th-minute lifeline with an equalizer to force extra time.

"I told Ronald (Araujo) that it doesn't matter if they score one goal, it doesn't matter if they score two goals. They can't hang with us," Yamal said after his two-assist performance.

Turns out, he was right.

Yamal put a long ball in behind the defense, and Courtois mistimed his run out to intercept it, leaving Torres with an open net to tie it up.

Raphinha thought he deserved a penalty in the final minute of injury time after contact with Raul Asencio, but, the referee, who the day before the final denounced a campaign to discredit him by Real Madrid's official club television channel, waved off his initial decision after consulting the video.

With several players clearly exhausted in extra time, the game appeared destined to finish in a penalty shootout, but that was when Kounde became the hero, firing in the decisive goal.

Invigorated

Barcelona has beaten Madrid in all three of this season's 'Clasicos' to date, including a 5-2 rout in the Spanish Super Cup final in January and winning 4-0 at Madrid in the league in October.

They will face each other again in La Liga on May 11.

"This was such a physically demanding game, but we showed that we are a great team that never gives up," said Torres, who filled in perfectly for the injured Robert Lewandowski.

The loss to its fierce rival was another blow to Madrid after it was knocked out of the Champions League quarterfinals by Arsenal three weeks ago.

This could have been its last tilt at a trophy with Ancelotti in charge.

The Italian coach said he will decide his future this summer amid speculation he is to take over the reins of the Brazil national side.

Ancelotti, when asked about his future, said: "As I have said, I can continue, I can stop, it will be a topic for the coming weeks."

While Ancelotti's second stint in Madrid appears to be coming to an end, Hansi Flick has only added to his superb first season at the helm of Barcelona.

The German coach has invigorated a group of players who seemed spent under Xavi Hernandez, and helped young players such as Yamal and Cubarsi continue to grow into stars.

"I have to say thanks to the team, because they had an unbelievable performance," Flick said.

"A huge win in the Copa final is great for everyone, and it gives us confidence for more."

Agencies via Xinhua