April 02, (THEWILL) – Real Madrid progressed to the Copa del Rey final following an electrifying 4-4 draw with Real Sociedad, winning 5-4 on aggregate. Antonio Rudiger headed the decisive goal in the 115th minute of extra time, culminating a contest filled with momentum shifts and defensive lapses.
The visitors struck first through Ander Barrenetxea, who finished between Andrii Lunin’s legs in the 16th minute. Madrid responded when Endrick capitalised on Vinicius Junior’s creative pass to equalise. The second half brought chaos as David Alaba inadvertently diverted Pablo Marin’s cross into his own net, before Mikel Oyarzabal’s deflected shot gave La Real the aggregate advantage.
Jude Bellingham immediately restored parity with a clinical finish, and Aurelien Tchouameni appeared to have settled matters with his 86th-minute header. Drama continued when Oyarzabal found space to nod home in stoppage time, forcing the additional period where Rudiger ultimately proved the difference maker.
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad will face either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in Seville next month, seeking only their second Copa del Rey trophy in the past 10 years. The final stages of the competition have produced extraordinary entertainment, with Madrid demonstrating their characteristic resolve despite defensive fragility.
Real Sociedad can feel aggrieved after an impressive performance at the Santiago Bernabeu, where they pushed the tournament favourites to their limits. Their four-goal display away from home merited more, but Madrid’s effectiveness from set pieces ultimately determined the outcome of this gripping semi-final encounter.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
