In a breathtaking Copa del Rey final at La Cartuja, Jules Kounde’s 116th-minute rocket sealed Barcelona’s thrilling 3-2 win over Real Madrid.
French defender Kounde struck in extra-time to settle a wild Clasico in Barcelona's favour, with the Catalans triumphing 3-2 in Seville.
The Catalans, aiming for a quadruple this season, won the first major trophy of Hansi Flick's reign as coach and a record-extending 32nd Spanish cup in dramatic fashion
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick called on his young side to 'enjoy' fighting rivals Real Madrid in Saturday's Copa del Rey final in Seville.
Real Madrid said complaints made by Copa del Rey final referees against pressure from the club's television channel were 'unacceptable' on Friday, after pulling out of planned pre-match activities.
"We will see tomorrow what the medical exams say but (Alaba and Camavinga) both suffered leg muscle injuries and it looks very unlikely for them to make it to Saturday's final," Ancelotti revealed in a post-match press conference.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said striker Kylian Mbappe is poised to return from injury to face rivals Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday.
Mbappe missed Madrid's win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday in La Liga and will not be available for the visit to face Getafe on Wednesday.
Record 31-time winners Barca had the better of the clash at the Metropolitano stadium after the wild 4-4 first leg draw, and defeat leaves Diego Simeone's Atletico with little to play for in the rest of the season.
Bilbao are the second most successful team in the history of the Copa del Rey, their 23 titles behind only Barcelona's 31, their most recent coming in 2020-21.
Sergi Darder fired the decisive spot-kick as Real Mallorca beat Real Sociedad 5-4 on penalties to book their place in the Copa del Rey final on Tuesday.
Inaki Williams raced back from Africa to face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and sent Athletic Bilbao into the semi-finals by scoring a crucial goal in their 4-2 extra-time triumph on Wednesday.
Defeat snapped Madrid's 21-match unbeaten run.
"It's a positive result, our play was positive in many moments, and we're in the last 16," Barca coach Xavi told Movistar.
Atletico Madrid progressed with a 3-1 win at third-tier Lugo after Memphis Depay struck twice, while Real Betis were knocked out in a 1-0 defeat by Alaves.
"This Copa arrived at an important moment, we came through very tricky ties, it's a deserved prize against strong opponents," added the coach
Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid earned their 20th Spanish Cup in their 40th final, ending a nine-year wait to lift the trophy again
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti thinks the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna on Saturday could be his last -- although he has thought the same in the past and been wrong, he explained Friday.
Karim Benzema struck a hat-trick as Real Madrid hammered Barcelona 4-0 at Camp Nou to reach the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday, progressing 4-1 on aggregate.
