According to reports, Real Madrid once again ended the season in disappointment. A team that was expected to become legendary after winning the La Liga and UEFA Champions League double and reinforcing with the world’s best striker, Kylian Mbappé, failed to meet expectations.

This season has been dull, heartbreaking, and lifeless, and Real lost another title in a match where they repeatedly shot themselves in the foot. In the Copa del Rey final, multiple issues were exposed—from squad composition and starting lineup choices to player performances and, most importantly, the exhaustion of their playing style, whether due to team fatigue or the manager’s lack of ideas. However, the truth is that Real Madrid was primarily responsible for Barcelona’s victory, committing mistakes unbecoming of a top-tier team.

The first half reflected Real Madrid’s fear

Attempting to protect defensive lines, constantly surrendering possession, limiting attacks to individual sparks, and lacking any coherent footballing ideas. Los Blancos couldn’t string together more than eight consecutive passes, long balls became habitual, and the plan was to prolong the game and capitalize on opportunities. Then, Real’s first major mistake occurred.

In one of the rare counterattacks, Jude Bellingham tried to set up Vinícius Júnior with a precise pass for a one-on-one with Marc-André ter Stegen. At the last moment, Barcelona defenders intercepted the ball, which fell to Pedri. The Spanish midfielder played a long pass to Lamine Yamal, while Bellingham stood with his hands on his head, regretting his mistake. This was the first error, as he failed to track Pedri, who surged into the box like lightning while the English midfielder was out of position.

Real Madrid poorly organized their defense in this scene; multiple players marked one opponent, and positioning was weak. This allowed Yamal to cut inside, but with few options, Pedri arrived like lightning from the second line. This moment highlighted Real’s situation, particularly Bellingham’s lapse. No one closed the box, and Bellingham wasn’t even in the frame, having lost his marker—a glaring defensive error that led to Barcelona’s first goal.

In the second half, the mood shifted as Real Madrid abandoned their limitations and played with greater intensity. This approach caught Barcelona off guard and put them under pressure.

At Real Madrid’s best moment, goals from Mbappé and Eduardo Camavinga turned the game around, but just as the match seemed headed for a conclusion, Real punished themselves again with another weak defensive move stemming from false confidence that they had already won before the final whistle.

Another chain of mistakes led to Ferran Torres’ equalizer. Fran García didn’t press Yamal with enough intensity, allowing him to deliver a ball behind the defense. Antonio Rüdiger, with slow steps and insufficient urgency, let the ball bounce and relied on Thibaut Courtois, who arrived late and poorly. The Spanish striker, smarter than both, slipped between them and scored into an empty net—another self-inflicted wound for Los Blancos.

Despite extreme physical fatigue, Real’s problem was more mental. In fact, they had several chances to retake the lead but failed to convert. Unlike Barcelona, who capitalized on another Real mistake when the game seemed headed for penalties. Luka Modrić’s pass and Brahim Díaz’s unjustifiable complacency in waiting for the ball allowed the Frenchman to steal it and score the winning goal.

All three of Barcelona’s goals resulted from clear footballing mistakes by Real Madrid—bizarre situations for a team with players at the level of the current La Liga and Champions League winners. Two defensive errors, plus a mistake at the start of the game, led to defeat in the Copa del Rey final.

The season is over, and now it’s time for decisions with a team that failed to meet expectations. If Los Blancos want to return to glory, they must make significant changes. This is a bitter truth.