Real Madrid pulled off a stunning turnaround against Real Sociedad to secure their place in the Copa del Rey final. After a 1-0 first-leg win, Carlo Ancelotti's side looked set, only for the second leg to take a dramatic twist.
The match began with Real Sociedad taking an early lead through Ander Barrenetxea, with Endrick quickly restoring parity. However, strikes by Pablo Marin and Mikel Oyarzabal – both deflected off David Alaba – pushed the visitors into a two-goal lead by the 80th minute.
Real Madrid responded with incredible resilience. Jude Bellingham fired home a first-time effort, and Aurelien Tchouameni headed in an equalizer from a Rodrygo corner, leveling the aggregate score at 4-4. In extra time, despite Real Sociedad adding another goal, substitute Antonio Ruediger emerged as the hero with a crucial header that secured a 5-4 aggregate victory.
Having won the Spanish Cup only once in over a decade, Real Madrid now gears up for a final showdown in Seville next month, with the possibility of facing either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid after a thrilling 4-4 draw in the other tie.
Reflecting on the rollercoaster encounter, Tchouameni told Real Madrid TV, "I don't know how to describe how I feel. Yes, we are happy because we are going to play a final, but we can't be satisfied with the match. We gave everything until the end, and we know we have top players on the bench who can make a difference. We have to play better than we did today."
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
