Barça edge Madrid in thriller to take Copa title

A Jules Koundé goal in the dying minutes of extra time handed Barcelona a dramatic 3-2 win over fierce rivals Real Madrid in an enthralling Copa del Rey final on Saturday.

Barça won a record-extending 32nd Spanish Cup title thanks to a stunning strike from the French defender, who pounced on a pass by Brahim Díaz and slotted a shot into the low corner of Thibaut Courtois' net from 25 yards for the 116th-minute winner.

Pedri put them ahead in the 28th minute with a brilliant curling strike into the top corner from outside the box in a first-half dominated by Barca.

However, Real took control in the second half as Kylian Mbappé, who was absent from the starting XI as he has yet to regain full fitness from an ankle injury, came off the bench to score the equaliser from a free kick in the 70th minute.

Aurélien Tchouaméni gave Real Madrid the lead seven minutes later with a towering header from a corner before Ferran Torres found the equaliser in a counter attack in the 84th minute that took the game to extra time.

Just when it seemed like the title would have to be settled in a penalty shootout, Koundé finally scored the winner that earned Barça the title and the first step in a potential treble.

Barcelona will carry this momentum into Wednesday's first leg of their Champions League semifinal against Inter Milan. They also lead LaLiga by four points over Madrid.

Barcelona have beaten Madrid in all three of their clásicos this season. They routed Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January after winning 4-0 at Madrid in LaLiga in October.

"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.

Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger, who had earlier been substituted, was shown a red card by the referee in the final minute of extra time.

The loss to their fierce rivals is another blow to Madrid after they were knocked out of the Champions League quarterfinals by Arsenal. This could have been its last final with Carlo Ancelotti in charge. The Italian coach said he will decide his future this summer amid speculation he is bound to take over Brazil.

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this report.