Kylian Mbappé Benched as Real Madrid Fall to Barcelona in Dramatic Copa del Rey Final
Apr, 27 2025
Kylian Mbappé Sidelined at Kickoff for Copa del Rey Final
Real Madrid fans were left scratching their heads when the starting lineup for the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona dropped—Kylian Mbappé, fit and warming up with the squad, wasn’t on the pitch. Coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to bench the French superstar, even though he'd been cleared after recovering from that nasty ankle injury against Arsenal just weeks earlier. With speculation swirling, the move looked like a gamble right from the first whistle, especially in a match as intense as El Clásico, the kind that can define a season.
Ancelotti explained his reasoning before the game: Mbappé might be medically fit, but was he truly ready for the full 90? The risk of aggravating his injury or seeing him fade late in the game was too great for Ancelotti, so he rolled the dice on his other attackers and hoped for midfield control. Early on, though, Madrid felt the void—no Mbappé meant no immediate attacking spark.
Barcelona took advantage of Madrid’s uncertainty, with Pedri finding pockets of space left by a wobbly Madrid backline. On the cusp of halftime, the Catalans capitalized: Pedri pounced, slotting past Courtois, handing Barca a 1-0 lead and putting pressure back on Ancelotti’s bench. The Bernabéu faithful knew something had to change, fast.
Mbappé’s Second-Half Charge Falls Short in Epic Clash
The vibe in the stadium shifted the moment Mbappé started warming up after the break. Within minutes of the restart, he was on, and the energy on the pitch was electric. The Frenchman looked sharp, making threatening runs and forcing Barcelona’s defenders into awkward challenges. But his real statement came in the 70th minute. Madrid won a free-kick on the edge of the box, and Mbappé bent a low, fizzing shot around the wall—his first direct free-kick goal in a Real Madrid shirt. Suddenly, the score was level, and hope surged for Los Blancos.
With momentum now swinging Madrid’s way, Ancelotti’s men pushed forward. Just seven minutes later, Aurelien Tchouameni powered home a header, putting Madrid in front for the first time and sending their supporters into a frenzy. But finals rarely go according to plan, especially against Barcelona. Late drama was guaranteed, and Barca refused to back down.
Brahim Díaz, who’d been largely reliable all year, made a costly mistake deep into extra time. Misplacing a pass under pressure, he handed Jules Koundé the chance to equalize, which he gladly took. Then, as legs tired and emotions frayed, Barcelona sealed the win—punishing Madrid’s sloppiness at the death. Despite Mbappé’s critical cameo, Madrid’s defensive issues and mental lapses opened the door for their rivals to lift the trophy with a 3-2 victory.
Still, even in a losing cause, Mbappé’s impact was impossible to ignore. Coming off the bench and changing the tempo, scoring a vital goal with little time on the pitch, he showed exactly why he’s regarded as one of the best in the world. Ancelotti’s caution might have been justified—after all, playing a not-quite-100% star on a tough ankle could backfire—but the Frenchman’s brief, electric performance is what people will talk about for weeks. In a heated clash that ultimately swung Barcelona’s way, Mbappé proved he’s Madrid’s game-changer in any situation.
Michael Laffitte
April 27, 2025 AT 19:37Wow, watching Mbappé explode onto the pitch after being benched felt like a fireworks show in the Bernabá!
His lightning‑fast run and that curling free‑kick gave us a taste of what could have been a full‑time masterpiece. Ancelotti’s gamble paid off in the moment, even if the final whistle still belonged to Barça. The drama of the Copa del Rey never disappoints.
sahil jain
April 29, 2025 AT 13:17Mbappé’s cameo was pure energy, a reminder why he’s a global icon :) The timing was perfect, and that free‑kick was a textbook strike. Even with the ankle worries, his impact was undeniable. Real needed that spark to keep the fans alive.
Bruce Moncrieff
May 1, 2025 AT 06:57Mbappé walked onto the field and the stadium seemed to hold its breath. He looked focused and determined. The French forward reminded everyone why he is called the next great. He took the ball in midfield and scanned the defense. A quick cut left the Barcelona backline shaken. He positioned himself for the free kick with calm precision. The ball curled low and slipped past Courtois. The equaliser sent the crowd into a roar. The momentum shifted and Real pressed forward. Tchouameni rose to meet the cross and headed it home. That goal put Real ahead for a brief moment. The game stretched on and tension grew. In extra time a mistake by Brahim Díaz opened the door. Koundé seized it and leveled the score. In the end Barcelona clinched the trophy despite Mbappé’s heroics.
Dee Boyd
May 2, 2025 AT 16:17The ethical dilemma here is stark: benching a top talent for precaution versus risking a career‑long injury. Ancelotti’s decision, though conservative, reflects a duty of care that should not be dismissed as mere tactical cowardice. In elite sport, player welfare must trump short‑term glory.
Carol Wild
May 3, 2025 AT 22:50One must consider the hidden agendas orchestrating narratives around high‑profile athletes like Mbappé, especially when media outlets spin the benching saga into a sensationalist trope that conveniently distracts from the deeper machinations of sporting institutions, which, under the guise of protecting player health, may actually be manipulating squad dynamics to serve undisclosed commercial interests; this, combined with the ever‑present specter of corporate sponsorships influencing managerial choices, creates a labyrinthine web of deception that the casual fan is rarely equipped to untangle, and it is this opaque veil that fuels my suspicion that the so‑called “caution” is merely a façade for power plays within the upper echelons of football governance.
Rahul Sharma
May 5, 2025 AT 13:43From a tactical perspective, Ancelotti’s substitution pattern aimed to preserve the team's shape while injecting fresh pace when the game opened up. Mbappé’s late entrance provided a burst of verticality that unsettled Barça’s compact midfield. Coaches often weigh the risk of aggravating injuries against the benefit of a game‑changing player, and in this case the gamble nearly paid off. The free‑kick goal exemplifies how a well‑timed specialist can alter momentum.
Emily Kadanec
May 7, 2025 AT 01:50Honestly, everyone missed the obvious: Ancelotti knew his squad’s depth and the benching was a strategic masterstroke. Mbappé’s limited minutes were enough to impact, which proves the coach’s plan was on point, not some reckless gamble. Definately, the team’s other attackers stepped up.
william wijaya
May 8, 2025 AT 19:30Seeing Mbappé sprint across the pitch after the halftime break revived the emotional pulse of the match. His movement created space, forcing Barcelona to reshuffle defensively, and that kind of ripple effect is priceless in a high‑stakes final. Even though the result didn’t favor Real, his influence was undeniable.
Lemuel Belleza
May 10, 2025 AT 04:50That was just another flash in the pan, nothing more than a brief sparkle that didn’t change the overall outcome.
faye ambit
May 11, 2025 AT 16:57The encounter invites reflection on the nature of sacrifice and glory; a single moment can encapsulate both the fragility of human ambition and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Mbappé’s brief brilliance serves as a reminder that even fleeting contributions can echo through collective memory, shaping narratives long after the final whistle.
Subhash Choudhary
May 13, 2025 AT 00:53True that, man. The game was wild and those moments stick with you.
Ethan Smith
May 14, 2025 AT 15:47Both teams displayed tactical discipline, yet the decisive factor lay in execution during critical phases. Real's temporary advantage, earned through Mbappé’s set‑piece, highlighted the importance of capitalizing on opportunities promptly.
Evelyn Monroig
May 15, 2025 AT 22:20Don't be fooled by the polished analysis – the whole thing was staged to keep the public distracted while the true power brokers manipulate transfer markets behind the scenes. The narrative of “Mbappé’s impact” is just smoke and mirrors.
Gerald Hornsby
May 17, 2025 AT 16:00What a roller‑coaster, pure theater! 😎
Hina Tiwari
May 19, 2025 AT 01:20I totally feel you – the match was a real emotional ride, even if my brain is still trying to process the ending.
WILL WILLIAMS
May 20, 2025 AT 19:00Mbappé lit the night on fire – pure spectacle!