MADRID — Spain’s Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Sevilla took place Sunday amid heightened police security and political tensions, following an attempt to ban Catalan flags from Vicente Calderón Stadium.
But in the end, the match was not mired by any incident involving fans. It instead turned into a bruising final, which Barcelona won, 2-0, in extra time after three players were sent off. By winning the Copa del Rey, or King’s Cup, Barcelona secured another domestic double, a week after winning La Liga.
While Sevilla ended worn down and with only nine players, it dominated much of a game in which it long held a numerical advantage, after Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano was sent off for a grabbing foul after 35 minutes.