El Clasico is always a spectacle, but the matchup on Saturday between traditional foes Real Madrid and Barcelona was particularly anticipated with the Copa del Rey at stake.
Remarkably, the event surpassed expectations, culminating in Barcelona’s exhilarating 3-2 win after extra time.
MORE — Copa del Rey overview, video highlights
Lamine Yamal contributed two assists to help Barcelona establish a 1-0 lead and set up Ferran Torres for a crucial equalizer late in the second half. Kylian Mbappe came off the bench to score a clever free kick. Big players made significant impacts in Seville as they vied for the trophy, and Jules Kounde made history within this storied rivalry.
So, who were the standout players, and who faced challenges at the Estadio de La Cartuja?
Barcelona Player Ratings out of 10 vs. Real Madrid
Wojciech Szczesny: 6.5 — Exceptional in preventing Real from scoring with crucial saves against Vini Jr. and Mbappe, although his slight delay on Mbappe’s free kick could have led to a goal. His involvement in Real’s second goal was also less than impressive.
Gerard Martin (Off 85′): 6.5 — Displayed some lapses in concentration, particularly marking Rodrygo and then Mbappe, but overall had a solid performance.
Inigo Martinez: 7 — Although he conceded a penalty that was canceled by an offside call, he consistently advanced the ball upfield and nearly led the match with his passes into the attacking zone.
Pau Cubarsi: 6.5 — Not his strongest performance for 90 minutes, but he stepped up significantly during extra time.
Jules Kounde: 8.5 — Exceptional in ball distribution. He might have been rated lower over the full match but was outstanding in the vital closing minutes, contributing defensively before securing the decisive goal.
Pedri (Off 98′): 7.5 — Scored a stunning goal and embodied the Barcelona playing style. He recorded 108 touches before being substituted, which was significantly higher than his teammates.
Real Madrid Player Ratings out of 10 vs. Barcelona
Thibaut Courtois: 5.5 — Made six vital saves, including a spectacular stop against Yamal, but struggled with his distribution, raising questions about his role in the second goal.
Lucas Vazquez (Off 55′): 5.5 — Had a weak performance, which looked worse in comparison to how well Real played after his substitution.
Raul Asencio: 6 — Avoided embarrassment when VAR ruled a penalty against Raphinha was a dive.
Antonio Rudiger (Off 111′): 7 — Displayed a strong presence and consistently performed well, though sharing responsibility for Barca’s late equalizer slightly lowered his score.
Aurelien Tchouameni: 7 — His relentless energy was evident throughout the match.
Kylian Mbappe (On HT): 7.5 — Demonstrated finesse with a well-taken free kick, and though he had chances for more goals, his performance was still impressive.
