On February 26, 2025, the Reale Arena will host the highly anticipated first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal featuring Real Sociedad and Real Madrid. For Real Sociedad, this match is not just another game; it marks their opportunity to reclaim glory after their last Copa del Rey triumph during the 2019/20 season, which was undoubtedly overshadowed by the absence of fans.
This season, the Basque team has shown promising form, defeating Osasuna 2-0 to secure their place in the semifinals. They are currently riding on a wave of confidence, having won five out of their last six matches, including an impressive 3-0 victory over Leganés, where players like Zaarayan, Kubo, and Olasagasti stood out.
Despite their strong home run—11 wins out of 13 matches at the Reale Arena—Real Sociedad faces some injury concerns. Key players Traore and Suchich will miss the clash due to injuries, creating uncertainties around the line-up. Nevertheless, the return of Zubeldia and Becker, both missing from the previous match, boosts their defense.
Coach Imanol Alguacil is expected to start Olasagasti and Oyarzabal, which should bolster their offensive strategy as they take on the La Liga giants. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, is also aiming for multiple trophies this season, intent on clinching the Copa del Rey title.
After facing challenges earlier this season, such as only earning two points from three matches, Madrid regrouped and won against Girona (2-0), putting them back on track for the title chase. This resurgence has been pivotal, especially as they’re also competing strongly on multiple fronts, including the Champions League.
Their Copa del Rey campaign has so far seen them dominate matches against Deportivo Minera, Celta, and Leganés, with Goncalo Garcia scoring decisive late goals to secure victories. Real Madrid enters this fixture as favorites, having not lost to Real Sociedad since 2020, with their last three contests ending all positively for the Madrid side, including a 2-0 victory at the Reale Arena back in September.
While injuries affect both teams, with Real Madrid missing Militao and Carvajal, their depth and experience could be deciding factors. Expect key players like Jude Bellingham to return to the starting line-up. Changes may also occur in defense, as Ancelotti might opt for Rudiger and Garcia, alongside giving opportunities to Ceballos.
Historically, Real Madrid has been strong against Real Sociedad, having won all three recent encounters and lost none of the last five matches. The last few face-offs have seen the Madrid side consistently come out on top.
Statistically, Real Sociedad has managed to hold Madrid to draws early on, particularly at home, and Madrid has often scored late goals in many of their encounters this season—highlighting their capability to perform under pressure.
Betting odds currently favor Real Madrid as they navigate the challenge with recent odds showing P2 (Real Madrid to win) at 1.8, reflecting their historical success over Sociedad. Nonetheless, bettors might also find value in placing wagers on goals; the likelihood of over 2.5 total goals seems appealing at odds of 1.95, considering the attacking prowess of both teams.
Betting options like both teams to score (1.85) are also heavily considered, as both sides have been potent offensively, particularly Sociedad at home. Focusing on corner counts or yellow card totals could also provide alternative betting strategies, with the expectation of fierce competition, especially considering the stakes involved.
With the expected line-ups for both teams, Sociedad may field: Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Elustondo, Lopez; Subiemendi; Kubo, Olasagasti, Marin, Gomez; Oyarzabal. On the other hand, Madrid could comprise: Lunín; Vazquez, Rudiger, Ascencio, Fran Garcia; Camavinga, Ceballos, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappé, Rodrigo.
This semi-final promises to deliver excitement as both teams vie for success, pushing for their place at the final. Will Real Sociedad repeat their successful run of form, or will the might of Real Madrid prove too strong once again? Only time will tell as the countdown to kickoff continues.