Real Sociedad Beat Athletic Club To Reach Copa Del Rey Final
Real Sociedad secured a 2-0 aggregate win over Athletic Club, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring a late penalty to set up a Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid.
Having allowed their hosts to record two-thirds of the possession before half-time...
Real Sociedad secured their spot in the Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid with a 1-0 win over Athletic Club at the Reale Arena, sealing a 2-0 aggregate victory. The intense Basque derby saw Athletic Club almost getting an early goal when Alex Berenguer's header went narrowly wide in the first two minutes.
The match was tightly contested, with Real Sociedad dominating possession but struggling to create clear chances. It was Mikel Oyarzabal who settled the tie with a penalty in the 87th minute, after Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta fouled Yangel Herrera in the box.
Both teams attacked with energy, and Alex Padilla made an incredible one-handed save to deny Sociedad's Carlos Soler, who had hit a superb free-kick.
Athletic's Inaki Williams and Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal led the charge, but chances were limited in an intense match.
And though their teammates often didn’t appear to be on the same wavelength, only Soler will know how he completely miscued with just Padilla to beat 10 minutes before half-time.
Having allowed their hosts to record two-thirds of the possession before half-time, the visitors came out much more purposefully after the break.
And they were almost back on terms in the tie as Williams turned Sergio Gomez inside out before the defender got back to divert the winger’s goalbound effort.
Gomez was again the hero shortly after, as Oihan Sancet broke clear, sticking out a boot at precisely the right moment to ensure another Athletic chance came and went.
Berenguer then flashed a shot wide as Los Leones pressed once more, and in their haste to try and grab a late goal, they were susceptible to swift counters from the hosts.
𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗶-𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗶. The final we all deserve.
— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) March 4, 2026
𝗔𝗨𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗔!!! 💙 pic.twitter.com/pBHOkOCJmm
As it was, an Oyarzabal penalty with four minutes to play was the killer blow, Padilla’s gamesmanship not fazing the Sociedad captain.
The result gives La Real the chance to win the trophy for a fourth time, and the first since their victory in the ‘2020’ final staged in 2021.
This win marks Real Sociedad's third Copa del Rey final appearance, with their previous wins in 1987 and 2020. They'll face Atletico Madrid in the final on April 18 at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville.
🏆 WE MADE IT!!!
— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) March 4, 2026
𝗔𝗨𝗣𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗟!!! 💙💙💙 pic.twitter.com/POGuFNaEru
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