Sports
Copa del Rey: Barca pumel Real Madrid 3-2 to emerge winner
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Barcelona hammered Real Madrid 3-2 after extra time, with Jules Kounde’s late strike sealing victory in a thrilling 2025 Copa del Rey final on Saturday in Seville.
The Catalans, aiming for a quadruple this season, won the first major trophy of Hansi Flick’s reign as coach and a record-extending 32nd Spanish Cup dramatically.
Pedri sent Barcelona ahead at La Cartuja, but two Real Madrid goals in seven second-half minutes, from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, pulled the Spanish and European champions level.
However, Ferran Torres struck in the 84th minute to take the game to extra time, and Kounde drilled home to win it for the La Liga leaders.
Substituted Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was sent off in the final seconds for appearing to throw an object onto the pitch towards the referee, and Lucas Vázquez, also replaced, was dismissed for further protest.
Real Madrid’s Spanish defender #35 Raul Asencio (BACK) and Barcelona’s Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha fight for the ball during their Spanish Cup, Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) final football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at La Cartuja stadium in Seville on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
“It was a good time to bring joy to our fans — we have to enjoy it but without forgetting the Champions League semis are coming,” Torres told La 1, with Barca hosting Inter Milan on Wednesday.
“They can make a party — for today, it’s OK,” a delighted Flick, who has won all seven finals he has coached in his career, told Movistar.
Madrid started with top scorer Mbappe on the bench after an ankle injury and lost Ferland Mendy early on with a thigh issue.
Carlo Ancelotti sent on Fran Garcia in his place, with the job of shackling Barcelona’s dazzling teenage winger Lamine Yamal.
The 17-year-old Spain star, who dyed his hair blond for the game, led the assault on Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
The Catalans, who won the first two Clasicos this season in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, scoring nine goals in the process, controlled the ball.
They took the lead after 28 minutes, Pedri placing the ball into the top corner with precision and power from the edge of the box.
It was a sensational goal, starting with a smart Pau Cubarsi interception in his half.
Pedri spread the play out to Yamal on the right, who cut inside and held the ball up until the Canary Islander arrived with a sight of goal.
Barcelona’s opener brought a defensive Madrid out of their shell — and also Mbappe off the bench to warm up.
The excellent Jude Bellingham netted but was offside, and Vinicius Junior would have won a penalty as Inigo Martinez hacked him down but had also strayed off in the build-up.
Barcelona could have doubled their lead, with Dani Olmo’s corner evading several players and bouncing off the far post, with Cubarsi unable to get there as Dani Ceballos held him back.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea was lenient with some heated Madrid tackles, perhaps cowed by Friday’s drama as the Spanish champions seethed at his pre-match comments denouncing attacks on officials by the club’s television channel.
Madrid sent Mbappé on for Rodrygo Goes at half-time, and soon he and Vinicius began to work on Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
End To End
Mbappe pulled Madrid level almost on his own in the 70th minute.
The striker surged forward and was brought down on the edge of the box, firing the free kick home off the post.
Seven minutes later, Madrid took the lead, Tchouameni finding space to head Arda Guler’s corner past the helpless Szczesny.
Barcelona responded when Yamal played a delicious pass over the top for Torres, which drew both Rudiger and Courtois, but the Spaniard pipped them there and rolled home.
Controversy unsurprisingly reared its head before the match headed to extra time.
Barcelona clamoured for a penalty when Rudiger appeared to bring down Torres, and then were awarded one deep in stoppage time as Raphinha tumbled under pressure from Raul Asencio.
However, the referee, called to review the incident by VAR, overturned his decision.
In extra time, Barcelona were ascendant and probed for a potential winner.
They eventually found it when Kounde intercepted an uncharacteristically loose Luka Modric pass and beat Courtois from outside the box, sparking wild celebrations.
Rudiger’s dismissal and Madrid’s pre-match histrionics regarding the refereeing team will ensure the repercussions run on — and the teams meet again in La Liga in May, which could decide the title race.
Sports
Mo Salah takes over from Osimhen as the highest paid player in Turkish league
Egyptian sensation Mohamed Salah has reportedly become the highest-paid footballer in the Turkish Super Lig following his move to Trabzonspor, with his weekly salary surpassing that of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
According to salary data published by Capology, the former Liverpool star is earning £342,500 per week after signing a two-year contract with the Turkish club, making him the league’s top earner.
Salah’s reported wages place him ahead of Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen, who previously occupied the top spot with an estimated weekly salary of £307,795.
Former Chelsea and France midfielder N’Golo Kante, now with Fenerbahce, ranks third on the list, taking home £225,716 every week.
The Super Lig’s growing financial strength is further reflected in the salaries of several other international stars who now ply their trade in Turkey.
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, who recently joined the Turkish top flight, reportedly earns £225,716 per week, matching Kante’s salary.
Former Bayern Munich and Germany winger Leroy Sane is also among the league’s highest earners, with reported weekly wages of £184,677.
Three other high-profile players Mason Greenwood, Milan Skriniar, and Marco Asensio are each said to receive £164,157 per week.
Brazilian attacking midfielder Anderson Talisca reportedly earns £153,980 weekly, while Belgian international Leandro Trossard takes home £133,460.
Rounding off the list are Nathan Ake and Matteo Guendouzi, who are each reported to earn £123,118 every week.
Salah’s arrival is widely seen as another major statement of intent by the Turkish Super Lig, which has increasingly attracted established European stars through lucrative contracts and ambitious transfer deals.
Sports
English FA withdraws support for Infantino – Reports
The English Football Association has withdrawn its support for under-fire FIFA president Gianni Infantino after his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, according to reports on Thursday.
The BBC and Sky said the FA has sent a letter underlining its refusal to back Infantino, who wanted to sell a 20 percent stake in the World Cup to private equity investors through his FIFA Forward Enterprise.
The plan sparked a cascade of criticism for Infantino and was rejected by European body UEFA and two other continental confederations, forcing him to scrap the scheme last week.
Amid growing calls for his resignation, the 56-year-old received the backing of senior FIFA directors at an emergency meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.
But UEFA turned the heat back up on Infantino on Thursday when it said it would maintain its plan to boycott the men’s and women’s World Cups in protest at his “shabby” plot.
UEFA said in a statement that FIFA’s support of Infantino “changed nothing”.
According to British media, the English FA has joined the chorus of disapproval by refusing to support his bid for re-election as FIFA president next year.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who now works for FIFA, and ex-Portugal star Luis Figo are among the leading names from the football world to condemn Infantino’s plan.
As Infantino clings to his role, global players’ union, FIFPRO on Thursday condemned FIFA and its president for their “abuse of power”.
FIFA had said during Wednesday’s meeting that “mistakes” were “acknowledged”.
World football’s governing body insisted it was “not the intention” for the FIFA Council and member associations to “feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently”.
Sports
Newcastle Appoints Matthias Jaissle As New Head Coach
Newcastle United have confirmed the appointment of Matthias Jaissle as the club’s new head coach following the departure of Eddie Howe.
The Genius Media Nigeria reports that the English Premier League club announced the appointment on Wednesday, with the 38-year-old German taking over at St. James’ Park after a successful spell with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli.
Although Jaissle has built an impressive coaching résumé in recent years, he is yet to manage a club in one of Europe’s top-flight leagues.
Reacting to his appointment, Jaissle expressed delight at joining Newcastle, describing the opportunity as one of the biggest moments of his coaching career.
“It is an incredible honour to become head coach of Newcastle United.
“This is one of the biggest clubs in European football, with a unique history, identity and supporter base, and I am excited to experience that passion and connection first-hand.
“When Newcastle United comes your way, you take notice. The ambition of the club, the vision for the future and the opportunity ahead made this an incredibly compelling place to be. I have followed the club’s journey closely in recent years and the progress that has been made is clear for everyone to see,” he said.
Jaissle’s playing career ended prematurely at the age of 25 after he suffered an injury.
He moved into coaching and got his first managerial opportunity with Austrian club Liefering, where he guided the team to a second-place finish in the second division, matching the club’s best-ever league performance.
In 2021, he was appointed head coach of Red Bull Salzburg and enjoyed immediate success, leading the Austrian giants to back-to-back league titles as well as lifting the Austrian Cup.
He later joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in 2023, where he further enhanced his reputation by leading the club to consecutive AFC Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026.
Jaissle takes charge of a Newcastle side looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025/26 campaign.
His predecessor, Eddie Howe, transformed the Magpies during his five-year spell at the club after replacing Steve Bruce in November 2021.
Howe guided Newcastle back into the UEFA Champions League in 2023 before securing qualification again in 2025.
His biggest achievement came in March 2025 when Newcastle defeated Liverpool in the League Cup final to win their first major trophy since 1969.
Despite his earlier successes, Howe came under increasing pressure last season as Newcastle struggled in the Premier League.
The uncertainty surrounding striker Alexander Isak’s prolonged transfer to Liverpool affected the team’s campaign, with the Magpies finishing 12th after suffering 17 defeats in 38 league matches.
Newcastle also reached the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 but were convincingly beaten 8-3 on aggregate by Barcelona.
The club has since lost more key players during the summer transfer window, with midfielder Sandro Tonali joining Tottenham Hotspur and England international Anthony Gordon completing a move to Barcelona.
Jaissle will now be expected to rebuild the squad and restore Newcastle’s challenge for European qualification and domestic honours.
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