On February 26, 2025, Real Sociedad will host Real Madrid at the Reale Arena for the first semi-final match of the Copa del Rey. The stakes are high as both teams aim for victory to progress toward the coveted title.
Real Sociedad approaches this encounter with significant confidence, having experienced strong performances at home, winning five out of their last six matches across all tournaments. The Basques are eager to capitalize on their home advantage and have recently welcomed back key players who can ignite their attack. Among them, young star Arseniy Zakharian has been pivotal, demonstrating his potential by scoring and assisting goals before his injury absence.
Conversely, Real Madrid enters San Sebastián with immense prestige and ambition, seeking to add to their historic tally of 20 Copa del Rey titles. The team has shown resilience, recovering from past setbacks earlier this season. They have dominated their recent encounters with Sociedad, winning the last three matchups, including two victories by scorelines of 2-0. This historical performance tips the scale slightly toward the Madrid side, igniting debates among fans and analysts alike about the potential for yet another win.
Analysts have pointed out the factors influencing the match outcome, particularly highlighting the significance of first-half performances and how both teams approach the game strategically. Given Sociedad’s solid track record at home, the match could prove to be tighter than expectations suggest. Recent trends indicate Sociedad tends to hold strong against Madrid, often making it challenging for visitors to assert control early on.
Betting odds reflect the teams' form, with bookmakers favoring Real Madrid slightly at around 1.93, showcasing their historic prowess. The draw has odds set at 3.80 with Sociedad trailing at about 4.10. With 99% of bets on Madrid for the match, public sentiment leans heavily toward the visitors, but several experts caution against the odds being overly simplistic. It is expected both teams will score, leading to propositions for totals over 2.5 goals, reflecting the exciting attacking capabilities displayed by both sides throughout the season.
Sociedad will likely field their most effective lineup for this clash: goalkeeper Alex Remiro will be supported by defenders Aaram Bureau and Alex Elustondo. Midfielders Martin Zubeldia and Mikel Merino are primed for action as they aim to create opportunities for forwards Takefusa Kubo and Mikel Oyarzabal. Meanwhile, Madrid will also release their firepower, returning Jude Bellingham to the starting XI along with the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr., who can change the match's tide at any moment.
Fans are urged to watch the match live, either on local television or through online streaming, as it promises to be thrilling combat both tactically and physically. The heat of competition is expected to produce high tensions, evident from the competitive history between these rival clubs, ensuring the audience's excitement builds as kick-off approaches.
With everything to play for, expect this match not to just be about possession but about seizing opportunities, capitalizing on weaknesses, and most of all, the heart of both teams to secure one step closer to the Copa del Rey trophy.