Real Sociedad has secured their place in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey after defeating Osasuna 2-0 at Reale Arena on February 6, 2025. The match marked a significant turnaround for the team, who were seeking to avenge their recent loss to Osasuna just four days prior, having fallen 1-2 in La Liga.
From the outset, Osasuna appeared poised to repeat their earlier success, applying pressure and creating opportunities. But it was Real Sociedad, led by their Japanese midfielder, Takefusa Kubo, who opened the scoring. The breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Kubo, starting the game on the right wing, used his aerial prowess to head the ball down, allowing Ander Barrenetxea to net the opening goal following some deft interplay with Mikel Oyarzabal.
This early goal shifted the momentum entirely. By the 31st minute, Real Sociedad had doubled their advantage. A high press from Pablo Marín forced Osasuna's defense to make errors, leading to Mendez finishing off another assist from Oyarzabal, placing the ball calmly past the goalkeeper.
The match took another turn just minutes later, when Osasuna's defender, Catena, was shown a straight red card for a dangerous kick on Barrenetxea, significantly reducing Osasuna’s chances as they struggled to recover from the two-goal deficit and go down to ten men.
Real Sociedad continued to control the game, keeping possession and efficiently managing their lead. Kubo, who was substituted out after 81 minutes, received applause from the home fans, marking his impactful presence throughout the match.
The defensive unit of Real Sociedad maintained composure against desperate attempts by Osasuna to mount a comeback, and they successfully kept the clean sheet until the final whistle.
This victory not only provides Real Sociedad with much-needed confidence moving forward but also marks their progress to the semifinal round of the respected tournament, aiming to reclaim the title they last won during the 2019-20 season.
Sociedad will now look forward to their next match against another strong opponent, hoping to capitalize on this momentum and perform well as they chase another Copa del Rey title.