FC Barcelona and Real Madrid displayed completely different game manners.

Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-2 in the Copa del RAY final held at Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla in Seville, Spain, on the 27th (Korea time), securing their 32nd title overall. This marks their return to the top after four seasons since the 2020-2021 season.

After taking the lead with Pedri's first goal, Barcelona fell behind 2-1 after consecutive goals from Mbappé and Tchouaméni in the second half. However, in the 38th minute of the second half, Ferran Torres scored the equalizer, sending the match into extra time.

In the 10th minute of extra time, Koundé scored the winning goal with a long-range shot, giving victory to Barcelona.

In this match, Ferran recorded one goal, four shots, a pass success rate of 79% (23/29), three chances created, seven touches inside the opponent's box, and 100% dribble success (5/5), showcasing an outstanding performance. He was recognized for his contributions by being named Player of the Match (POTM).

Tribuna reported, "The moment he lifted the championship trophy, Torres held up a jersey with Dr. Miñano's name inscribed on it in tribute."

Dr. Carles Miñano passed away suddenly in March 2025. He was a highly respected figure within FC Barcelona, having supported the team with his exceptional expertise and dedication.

Tribuna added, "Since his passing, Barcelona has consistently honored his memory by wearing black armbands in every match and observing moments of silence during the UEFA Champions League match against Benfica."

This spirit continued in the Copa del RAY final as Ferran raised a jersey with Dr. Miñano's name right after the victory, symbolizing how deeply the Barcelona squad holds him in their hearts.

This was a completely opposite display to that of Real Madrid. British outlets 'Metro' and 'Sports Bible' reported that "Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger threw an ice pack at referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea at the end of the match" and that "after a rough protest, he and Lucas Vázquez received red cards, with the possibility of further sanctions open."

The incident occurred in added time during extra time. After Real was hit by a turnaround goal from Barcelona's fullback Jules Koundé, making the score 2-3, the heated atmosphere of the match escalated as Vázquez and Vinícius Júnior protested vehemently to the referee.

The problem was Rüdiger's sudden action. According to Metro, he picked up an ice pack from the bench and threw it at the referee, a scene that was promptly captured by the officiating crew.

The referee, De Burgos, immediately approached the bench and showed red cards to Lucas Vázquez and Rüdiger. Rüdiger protested vigorously and even charged towards referee De Burgos. Though the coaching staff intervened, he was ultimately sent off.

After the match, many posts analyzing Rüdiger's lip movements appeared on social media, reporting that Rüdiger hurled indecent insults at the referee in German, including "You are a monstrosity (Du Missgeburt)" and "You are the son of a whore (Du Hurensohn)."

Metro reported, "Real's coaching staff and teammates barely restrained him. Rüdiger could not hide his excitement, even tearing off the ice pack on his knee, while six others, including Mendy and Vallejo, struggled to calm him down. Rüdiger's actions have reignited the long-standing controversy over 'how Real Madrid treats referees' in Spanish football."

Real's misconduct actually began before the match. A day prior, Real canceled a press conference and official training schedule in protest of the referee assignment for the Copa del RAY final, and some local media even reported that "Real might boycott the final."

In response, Real emphasized in an official statement on the 26th, "We did not refuse to play in the final. However, the statements made by these referees are clearly inappropriate and regrettable," as the reason was that an undesirable referee had been assigned.

In contrast, local rivals Atlético Madrid fired back, saying, "This situation has reached an unbearable level. Real Madrid repeatedly puts Spanish football as a whole in crisis. They are mobilizing a 'friendly group of reporters' to spread their delusions," criticizing Real for using club-friendly media to shape public opinion in their favor.

Unlike Real, Barcelona maintained the dignity of a prestigious club as they achieved their 32nd Copa del RAY victory, maintaining the record for the most titles in the tournament's history (32).

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