Real Madrid secure Copa del Rey final spot after extra-time thriller against Sociedad.
Real Madrid reached the Copa del Rey final after a thrilling 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad in extra time, clinching a 5-4 aggregate win in their semifinal. Antonio Rudiger’s header in the 115th minute sealed the victory, sending Madrid into the final where they will face either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.
Sociedad, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, took the lead through Ander Barrenetxea, but Endrick quickly leveled for Madrid with a brilliant chip. The visitors then surged ahead, with a David Alaba own goal and a deflected effort from Mikel Oyarzabal, putting them in the driver’s seat. However, Madrid responded with goals from Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Oyarzabal scored again in stoppage time to force extra time, but Real Madrid held on, and Rudiger’s decisive header late in extra time put them through.
Carlo Ancelotti made several changes to his starting lineup, bringing back Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes while resting Kylian Mbappe, with Endrick leading the attack. The young Brazilian forward, who scored in the first leg, was lively early on, nearly scoring with an overhead kick. Bellingham also had chances, but it was Sociedad who struck first, with Barrenetxea finishing a neat move to level the tie.
Madrid responded quickly, with Vinicius providing a brilliant assist for Endrick, who lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Alex Remiro to equalize. Sociedad appealed for a penalty just before halftime after Takefusa Kubo was fouled in the box, but the referee waved play on.
Ancelotti brought Mbappe on for Endrick, hoping to seal the win, but it was Sociedad who looked more dangerous, with Andriy Lunin making a key save to deny Martin Zubimendi. However, Madrid’s defense crumbled in the 72nd minute when Alaba deflected a cross into his own net, and soon after, Oyarzabal added a third with a deflection off Alaba.
Madrid mounted a quick response, with Bellingham pulling one back in the 82nd minute, and Tchouameni scoring moments later when Remiro fumbled his header into the net. In the dying seconds of regulation, Oyarzabal headed in a free kick from Sergio Gomez to force extra time.
Despite Sociedad’s efforts, Madrid held firm, and with just five minutes left, Rudiger rose to meet an Arda Guler corner and headed home the match-winner.
The other semifinal sees Atletico Madrid hosting Barcelona on Wednesday, with the tie tied at 4-4 on aggregate.
