Koundé celebrates the winning goal against Real Madrid EFE/Julio Muñoz

Barcelona, ​​champion of a dramatic Copa del Rey thanks to Koundé

It was past the 115th minute when Koundé cut off a ball and from the edge of the box launched a low and decisive shot.

SEVILLE -- Jules Koundé , the unexpected hero, the impassive defender, Lamine Yamal 's supporting player , gave Barcelona a dramatic Copa del Rey victory in Seville, with a shot in the 115th minute, just as penalties were looming. A final that Barça won in an intense Clásico against Real Madrid . A final (3-2) that had everything and everything.

And it was a final of contrasts , conditioned by Real Madrid 's disreputable institutional performance in the run-up, which ended up affecting the match itself.

VAR ruled out a penalty awarded to Raúl Asencio on Raphinha in the final moments of regular time, which wasn't even a penalty, after failing to alert the referee to two other, much clearer ones. One of them, a blatant one, on Pau Cubarsí at the end of the first half.

Real Madrid were on their knees, surrendered, and almost surrendered. And Barça didn't know how or could finish it off after Pedri 's stunning goal in a first half that quickly set the pace: after the first 15 minutes, Real Madrid's possession was barely 13 percent, compared to Barça's 87 percent. Something never seen before in the modern era of El Clásico.

Barça cornered them wonderfully in play and mediocre in finishing until a monumental cut by Cubarsi ended with the ball at the feet of Lamine Yamal on the wing, he raffled off Fran García and gave him a measured, low, smooth and perfect pass to Pedri, who from the edge of the box telegraphed a cannonball impossible for Thibaut Courtois .

Half an hour in, 1-0 down, and the feeling that Real Madrid, bereft of a Kylian Mbappé whom many accused of disappearing from the game, was beginning to leak from all sides. But with them on the ropes, Barça couldn't finish. And in an exceptional and brutal corner that went straight to the post, no one paid attention to Asencio's tackle on Cubarsí, resulting in a blatant penalty that VAR refused to acknowledge.

CHANGE

Mbappé decided to present himself for the final after the break, and Madrid appreciated it. Barça's strange drop in intensity gave way to a completely different match.

Wojciech Szczesny made a superb double save from Vinícius Júnior , and Ancelotti's team went from being a phantom to overwhelming the opponent who had previously danced around them. They improved greatly with the participation of Jude Bellingham and the energy of Mbappé, while Barça was lost in childish errors, like two counterattacks that were as clear as they were poorly executed. Until the unthinkable became reality.

A foul by Frenkie de Jong on Mbappé on the edge of the area was converted by the French striker himself, and not long after, in the 77th minute, a cross from Arda Güler was headed into the net by Aurélien Tchouaméni . From 1-0 to 1-2, from Barça euphoria to the uncontainable joy of a Madrid that saw itself as champions.

But they failed to behave like a champion team and gave up ground and freedom to Lamine Yamal's magical pass and Ferran Torres' trickery against Antonio Rüdiger and Courtois to equalize again.

Controversial final? Yes, of course. The referee narrowly ruled a penalty for Raphinha's fall on Asencio, and the VAR reversed him. The VAR, which had previously refused to attend the match, did so now. And, of course, the final went to extra time, just as it did in 2011, the night Cristiano Ronaldo gifted Mourinho his first victory over Guardiola.

From there to extra time. To the nerves, to Barça's resurgence, to Madrid's fatigue. And Koundé's final blow. And Barça winning the Cup.