Real Madrid's narrow victory against Real Sociedad last night marked a significant step toward reaching the Copa del Rey final. With the match concluding 0-1, the triumph was sealed by Brazilian forward Endrick's goal, demonstrating the team's resilience amid pressure from their opponents.
Taking place on February 26, 2025, at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián, the match was the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. Imanol Alguacil, the Real Sociedad's head coach, expressed his disappointment post-game, stating his team deserved more from the first half when they showcased superior play against the prestigious Madrid side.
Real Sociedad started the game strong, applying good pressure and pushing toward Madrid's goal. They had early chances with shots from Barrene and Kubo, both thwarted by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. Lunin's performance saw him making several key saves to deny the hosts, who were pushing for the lead.
20 minutes in, Madrid took control of the game when Jude Bellingham delivered a precise pass to Endrick, who skillfully controlled the ball outside the penalty area and struck it with the outside of his foot to score the only goal of the match.
After the goal, the game continued with both teams exchanging attempts. Real Sociedad's Oyarzabal nearly equalized shortly after, but Lunin was again up to the task, making another fantastic stop to maintain Madrid's slender lead. On the other end, Vinicius Junior came close to extending Madrid's advantage, only for his shot to be saved by Remiro, Real Sociedad's goalkeeper.
Before halftime, the match had to pause when unpleasant chants erupted, prompting the referee, Sánchez Martínez, to intervene with warnings displayed on stadium screens. The first half concluded with Madrid leading 0-1.
The second half resumed with renewed vigor from Real Sociedad, who continued to press and search for the equalizer. They again found opportunities, with Oyarzabal and Kubo both testing Lunin, but the keeper was relentless, pulling off fantastic saves.
Endrick, not content with just one goal, nearly struck again, rattling the crossbar after connecting with another brilliant pass from Vinicius. Real Sociedad's best opportunity came at the 69th minute, where Oyarzabal found himself unmarked after a defensive error but saw his effort blocked by Rüdiger, keeping the score intact.
Towards the end of the match, a worrying moment arose for Madrid as midfielder Dani Ceballos sustained a knee injury after a clash with Kubo, forcing him to leave the pitch. Although Ceballos's condition remains to be fully assessed, this injury added to the tension as Madrid fought to secure the win.
Commenting on the match, Manolo Lama, Madrid's narrador on Tiempo de Juego, praised both sides, noting, "Yesterday was all about the shots, but today was about defense and two solid goalkeepers. The Madrid formation showed beneficial rotations with eight changes, proving they can manage their squad effectively as they push for the final."
The upcoming return leg is set for April 1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Madrid will look to capitalize on their first-leg advantage. Given the performances displayed, supporters from both sides are eagerly anticipating what promises to be another thrilling encounter, potentially paving the way for Madrid to reach yet another Cup final.