Jules Koundé’s Heroics Secure Copa del Rey Glory for Barcelona
Jules Koundé etched his name into Barcelona folklore, scoring a dramatic extra-time winner to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final. The French defender’s 116th-minute strike at a packed Estadio de La Cartuja sealed Barça’s 32nd Copa del Rey title, sparking wild celebrations among players and fans alike.
Reflecting on his decisive moment, Koundé said: “It’s hard to say if it’s the best moment of my career, but it’s up there. I became a footballer for matches like this — a Clásico, the biggest game in the world.” Barcelona showed tremendous resilience throughout the contest, with Koundé praising the team’s collective character and spirit.
Barça had to dig deep after initially falling behind, but goals from Robert Lewandowski and Pedri turned the tide before Madrid forced extra time with a late equalizer. In the end, it was Koundé who delivered the killer blow, reacting quickest to a loose ball in the box to fire home and secure the trophy.
Manager Hansi Flick was full of praise for the 25-year-old: “Jules Koundé was the decisive player. In a match of this magnitude, you need leaders, and today Jules showed exactly that.”
The triumph provides a major boost for Barcelona as they continue to chase a potential treble. Sitting atop La Liga and with a Champions League semi-final showdown against Inter Milan on the horizon, Koundé and his teammates are hungry for even more silverware.
“It’s one more title; two more to chase,” Koundé declared, underlining the team’s unwavering focus.
With this latest success, Barcelona reaffirm their dominance in Spanish football and Koundé cements his growing reputation as one of the club’s indispensable players in the new era under Flick.
