Ancelotti risks sack as Inter check for Barcelona weaknesses | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti risks an early dismissal from Real Madrid after losing a dramatic Copa del Rey Final, 3-2 in extra time, but Inter might learn from Barcelona’s match ahead of the Champions League semi-final.

Kylian Mbappé was only fit for the bench with Eduardo Camavinga out for the season, while Robert Lewandowski missed out for the Blaugrana and is also a major doubt for even the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Inter.

There was a blow early on for Ancelotti, because Ferland Mendy limped off in the opening 10 minutes, adding to the extensive injury list.

Lamine Yamal skimmed the upright and Thibaut Courtois fingertipped a Jules Kounde header over, but Barcelona broke the deadlock with a ferocious Pedri strike into the top corner from well outside the area.

Jude Bellingham had the ball in the net, but had wandered offside, then the referee pointed to the spot for a foul on Vinicius only for that too to be flagged offside.

Dani Olmo risked scoring directly from the corner flag, as it went past everyone to thump the far post.

Ancelotti transforms Real Madrid in second half

SEVILLE, SPAIN – APRIL 26: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid scores his team’s first goal from a free kick during the Copa del Rey Final match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Estadio de La Cartuja on April 26, 2025 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Ancelotti had to take a risk and throw on the not fully fit Mbappé at half-time and it made an impact, Vinicius forcing a double save out of ex-Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny at the near stick, then the veteran threw himself at Mbappé’s effort.

Vinicius twisted and turned past two, but Koundé made the decisive block eventually, then the Brazilian curled just wide.

Mbappé wanted a red card when Frenkie de Jong pulled him back running on goal, but there were enough defenders around to warrant only a yellow. It didn’t matter, as the Frenchman scored from the resulting free kick, in off the inside of the upright, which remarkably was the first direct free kick goal of his entire professional career.

Ancelotti’s Real Madrid turned the game around with Aurelien Tchaouameni’s header from a corner, a situation that Inter will want to study for the Champions League semi-final, as it is one of their strengths.

SEVILLE, SPAIN – APRIL 26: Pedri of FC Barcelona scores his team’s first goal during the Copa del Rey Final match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Estadio de La Cartuja on April 26, 2025 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Courtois palmed a Lamine Yamal curler round the far post, but Barcelona drew level when Ferran Torres ran onto the inspired Lamine Yamal ball over the top and drew out the goalkeeper to deposit into an empty net from a tight angle.

Another blow soon after for Ancelotti saw Vinicius limp off, then at the 96th minute Raul Asencio went into a clumsy tackle on Raphinha for a penalty. VAR recommended an On-Field Review, showing Raphinha was dragging his trailing leg to make contact, so the penalty was revoked and the Barcelona player booked for simulation.

Instead, the Copa del Rey Final went to extra time in Seville with Barcelona making only one substitution in normal time. Ferran Torres was clearly offside when scoring, but Koundé made up for his earlier poor defending on Tchouameni by restoring the Blaugrana’s lead on 116 minutes. He pounced on a misplaced pass in the final third and drilled into the near bottom corner from the edge of the area.

SEVILLE, SPAIN – APRIL 26: Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona scores his team’s third goal during the Copa del Rey Final match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Estadio de La Cartuja on April 26, 2025 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

There was almost more drama, Mbappé hacked down only after Brahim Diaz was flagged offside on the pass. It was too much for Antonio Rudiger, who was sent off from the bench for dissent and had to be held back by several staff members as he tried to confront the referee.

Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (aet)

Pedri 28 (B), Mbappé 70 (RM), Tchaouameni 77 (RM), Ferran Torres 84 (B), Koundé 116 (B)

Barcelona: Szczesny; Koundè, Martinez, Cubarsì, Martin (Araujo 85); de Jong (Gavi 85), Pedri (Garcia 98); Yamal, Olmo (Lopez 65), Raphinha; Torres (Victor 115)

Real Madrid: Courtois; Vasquez (Guler 55), Asencio, Rudiger (Endrick 110), Mendy (Fran Garcia 11); Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos (Modric 55); Bellingham; Rodrygo (Mbappè 46), Vinicius Jr (Diaz 89)