Barcelona v Real Madrid

About the Drawing

The 2025 Copa del Rey Final between Barcelona and Real Madrid had all the ingredients of a memorable clásico. Played in Seville, the match remained finely balanced throughout before Barcelona secured a 3–2 victory after extra time. It was one of those finals that always felt capable of turning in either direction.

This drawing has an unusual story because, for once, I was there. My brother had been due to attend the final but, at the last minute, he was unable to go. Instead, I found myself travelling to Seville with his ticket. Knowing I wanted to make an ArteBall drawing afterwards, I arranged for a friend to record the match so I could listen to the radio commentary later while drawing.

The atmosphere in Seville was unforgettable. Thousands of Barcelona and Real Madrid supporters filled the city long before kick-off. Although my seat was behind one of the goals, it wasn't always easy to follow the action as everyone around me seemed to leap to their feet whenever something happened. It made me smile that, despite being inside the stadium, I still depended on the radio afterwards to experience the match in the way I know best.

There were moments away from the football that have stayed with me too. King Felipe VI arrived shortly before kick-off, having travelled directly from Rome after attending the funeral of Pope Francis. Later, the referee briefly received treatment on the pitch, his socks around his ankles while the physios worked on his legs. We rarely think about referees as athletes, yet they cover almost as much ground as the players.

I made the drawing two days later, on the day of Spain's nationwide power outage. Looking back, the drawing brings together memories of several extraordinary days: an unforgettable final, a city full of football supporters, and an unexpected moment in Spain's recent history.