In a dramatic showdown at the Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla on April 26, 2025, Real Madrid suffered a devastating 3-2 defeat to FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, leaving manager Carlo Ancelotti under intense scrutiny.

The match, a classic El Clásico, saw Barcelona clinch the trophy in extra time, thanks to a stunning strike by defender Jules Koundé in the 114th minute.

Despite a spirited second-half performance, Real Madrid couldn’t overcome their rivals, and Ancelotti’s post-match comments have sparked widespread debate about his future with the club.

Ancelotti, speaking after the game, expressed his frustration but stood by his players. “We dominated the second half… and we did everything we could. I can’t criticize the team, we did our best,” he said, as reported by Fabrizio Romano on X. He added, “I’m hurt, it was so close.

We were so close to winning.” Shifting focus, Ancelotti vowed to prioritize La Liga, where Real Madrid trails Barcelona by four points with several matches remaining, including another El Clásico on May 11, 2025.

However, his optimism about securing the league title has been met with skepticism from fans and analysts, given Barcelona’s current lead and momentum under coach Hansi Flick, who has now won all three Clásicos since taking charge in the summer of 2024.

The match itself was a rollercoaster. Barcelona took the lead through Pedri’s brilliant first-time strike, assisted by the electric Lamine Yamal.

Real Madrid fought back after halftime with Kylian Mbappé, who came off the bench to curl in a free-kick, followed by a header from Aurélien Tchouaméni off an Arda Güler corner.

Barcelona equalized late through Ferran Torres, who rounded goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to make it 2-2, setting the stage for Koundé’s extra-time heroics.

The Barcelona defender’s long-range screamer sealed the win, marking his fourth goal of the season and cementing his status as a key player since his 2022 transfer from Sevilla.

Koundé’s impact extends beyond this match—he also provided an assist in Barcelona’s 5-2 Supercopa de España final victory over Real Madrid earlier in 2025.

The loss has intensified pressure on Ancelotti, whose tenure at Real Madrid is now in question.

Fans on X expressed frustration, with some mocking his La Liga ambitions, pointing out the difficulty of closing the four-point gap after such a morale-crushing defeat.

Others criticized tactical decisions, like starting Lucas Vazquez and underusing young talents like Güler.

Meanwhile, speculation about Ancelotti’s exit is rife, with reports suggesting a potential move to coach the Brazil national team as early as the end of the season. Posts from @theMadridZone and @MadridXtra indicate that discussions about his future are imminent, with names like Xabi Alonso being floated as possible successors.

As Real Madrid regroups for upcoming challenges, including La Liga clashes and the Club World Cup, the football world watches closely to see if Ancelotti can weather this storm or if this El Clásico defeat marks the end of his storied chapter with the club.