Copa final: Mbappe's heroics in vain, Diaz cost Real Madrid the match, and Rudiger faces a ban as Barca wins

Real Madrid's season took another blow Saturday evening, as a Brahim Diaz error in extra time gifted the Copa del Rey to Barcelona in a dramatic extra-time Clasico - one that ended with a 3-2 Barca win.

Los Blancos were thoroughly out of the game in the first half, but battled back to force extra time, before a 116th-minute winner from Jules Kounde sealed the contest for the Blaugrana.

Madrid struggled to find a foothold early in the first half. Without Mbappe, Los Blancos tried to sit in and defend. But the same midfield issues that have been plaguing them all season reared their head.

Barca cut through Madrid, Lamine Yamal finding space, teasing his man, and cutting back for Pedri, who swept the ball into the top corner from outside the box. It could have been more. Yamal put one wide.

 Olmo hit the post. Madrid had their moments, though, seeing one goal disallowed and then having a penalty called back due to an offside.

Los Blancos were more energetic when Mbappe came on at the break. Vinicius Jr had a couple of efforts saved before Mbappe was well denied from close range. The Brazilian was at it again soon after, curling wide after Luka Modric robbed Pedri at the top of the Barca box. Mbappe found the equaliser, curling a free kick in off the post with 20 minutes to play.

Aurelien Tchouameni eventually provided the moment of magic, slipping his man and heading home from a corner to give Madrid the lead.

But it never felt steady. Yamal made sure of it, playing a teasing ball into the feet of Ferran Torres, who rounded the keeper to equalise. Controversy had its role to play in the dying minutes, Barcelona being awarded a penalty before seeing it waved off deep into stoppage time.

Extra time was predictably cagey. Madrid lacked the cutting edge without Vinicius, while Barca's legs grew weary. Torres came closest in the first period, dragging an effort narrowly wide. Kounde eventually provided the decisive moment, capitalising on a loose pass and smashing home from 20 yards. An already disappointing season goes from bad to worse.

Meanwhile, Antonio Rudiger is facing a significant ban after throwing ice at the referee.

Both Lucas Vázquez and Vinicius Junior ran onto the pitch and aggressively threw their arms in the direction of the official before Rudiger followed up and threw an ice cube from the touchline, just metres from where Carlo Ancelotti was standing, towards the centre of the pitch.

De Burgos Bengoetxea came over to the touchline and gave red cards to both Vazquez and Rudiger, who then attempted to storm over to the referee.

Madrid’s coaching staff tried to restrain the former Chelsea centre-back as he then removed a bulky ice pack from his right knee.

Six people, including two Madrid players, Ferland Mendy and Jesus Vallejo, then stepped in to try to calm Rudiger before he was led away from the technical area.

Rudiger appeared to have been escorted back to the dressing room, but the defender returned to the fray and attempted to reach the centre of the pitch, where De Burgos was accompanied by his assistant referees.

However, Luis Llopis, Madrid’s goalkeeping coach, and goalkeeper Andrii Lunin, together managed to convince Rudiger to change his mind before he left the field, this time for good.

The former Chelsea defender was not seen again, neither during the Barcelona tribute nor during the opponent’s celebration after winning the trophy.

Rudiger’s behaviour will put further scrutiny on Madrid’s conduct towards officials in Spain, which was highlighted by a tearful De Burgos Bengoetxea during the officials’ pre-match press conference on Friday.