Real Madrid survived a dramatic encounter against Real Sociedad and reached the final of the Copa del Rey after a 4-4 draw following extra time at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid on Tuesday, in the second leg of the semi-final.
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The match ended with a 4-3 victory for the Basque side in regular time, forcing extra time after losing 1-0 in the first leg at home. In the second half of extra time, the Royal Club scored a goal, securing their place in the final for the 41st time in their history, as they pursue their 21st Copa del Rey title.
Real Madrid avoided a repeat of their 2019-2020 season, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Real Sociedad with a 3-4 loss at the Bernabéu.
In the final, scheduled for April 26 in Seville, Real Madrid will face either their city rivals Atlético Madrid or their fierce rivals Barcelona, who play their second leg on Wednesday at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, after drawing 4-4 in the first leg in Barcelona.
The club suffered significantly in the absence of their star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is out injured. His substitute, Ukrainian international Andriy Lunin, was not up to par, making a costly mistake in conceding Sociedad's fourth goal, scored by captain Mikel Oyarzabal. Lunin also conceded two own goals from his defender David Alaba (72 and 80).
Real Madrid started the match with the better of the play and almost opened the scoring through Brazilian forward Endrick, who replaced French striker Kylian Mbappé. Endrick received a pass inside the box but hit a weak shot just wide (5). He also attempted an acrobatic shot from close range that went just wide (8).
English midfielder Jude Bellingham played a key role, passing to Vinícius, who went on a run and shot at the far corner, but Sociedad's goalkeeper Alex Remiro made a great save (10).
Sociedad responded with a powerful low shot from Luka Sucic that narrowly missed the far post (12).
The Basque side opened the scoring when Ander Barrenetxea took advantage of a header from Pablo Marín behind the defense, sprinted into the box, and placed the ball between Lunin’s legs (16).
Bellingham passed a brilliant ball behind the defense to Vinícius, who dribbled into the area but his shot was deflected by Remiro (20).
Endrick equalized when Vinícius chipped the ball over the defense to him, and he ran into the area, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper into the net (30).
Lunin saved Real Madrid again by denying Mikel Merino’s close-range shot after a corner (70).
Sociedad regained the lead when Marín dribbled into the box and crossed the ball, which deflected off Alaba’s foot and deceived Lunin (72). They extended their lead when Japan’s Takefusa Kubo crossed for Oyarzabal to score with a powerful shot that again deflected off Alaba (80).
Bellingham pulled one back, tapping in a close-range finish from Vinícius' cross (82). Vinícius missed an excellent chance to equalize when he dribbled inside the box, but the defense cleared it for a corner, which was then converted by Aurelien Tchouaméni with a header (86).
In the dying seconds of regular time, Oyarzabal gave Sociedad the lead again with a header from a free-kick taken by Sergio Gómez (90+3).
Bellingham almost scored a header from a close-range cross by Vinícius, but Remiro made a crucial save before the defense cleared the ball (90+4), sending the game into extra time.
Vinícius missed another easy chance in extra time when he received a pass from Mbappé, dribbled into the box, and shot into the side netting (93).
Finally, the breakthrough came from Real Madrid's German defender Antonio Rüdiger, who replaced Alaba and scored with a header from a corner taken by Turkish substitute Arda Güler (115).
