Trending 
Real Madrid secured a place in the Copa del Rey final after a dramatic 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad on Tuesday, winning 5-4 on aggregate after extra time. Antonio Rudiger’s late header in the 115th minute sealed Madrid’s passage to the final, where they will face either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Real Sociedad took the lead through Ander Barrenetxea. However, Endrick responded for Madrid with a delightful chip to level the score.
The home side surged ahead again as a David Alaba own goal and a deflected effort from Mikel Oyarzabal put them in control. But Madrid fought back, with Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni restoring parity.
Oyarzabal’s stoppage-time header forced extra time, but Sociedad could not hold on for penalties, as Rudiger’s powerful header from an Arda Guler corner decided the tie.
Rudiger, elated after his match-winning goal, described it as an “easy” finish thanks to the quality of the delivery. “It was a really hard game with many comebacks, but in the end, my goal made the difference,” he told Real Madrid TV.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti opted to start Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes, resting Kylian Mbappe, with Endrick leading the attack. The 18-year-old Brazilian, who had scored the only goal in the first leg, was active from the start, narrowly missing an overhead kick early on.
However, Sociedad struck first, with Barrenetxea latching onto Pablo Marín’s flick-on and firing past Andriy Lunin. Madrid responded swiftly as Vinicius set up Endrick, who produced a sublime lobbed finish over goalkeeper Alex Remiro to restore the aggregate advantage.
Ancelotti introduced Mbappe in the second half, but Sociedad looked more threatening. Lunin pulled off a crucial save from Martin Zubimendi before Alaba inadvertently turned Marin’s cross into his net, giving Sociedad the lead again.
Moments later, Alaba was involved in another defensive mishap, deflecting Oyarzabal’s shot past Lunin to put Sociedad ahead on aggregate. However, Madrid responded in style.
Vinicius broke free on the left and set up Bellingham, who smashed home in the 82nd minute. Four minutes later, Tchouameni’s header was fumbled by Remiro, leveling the score at 4-4 on the night.
Just when it seemed Madrid had completed their comeback, Oyarzabal struck again in the 93rd minute, heading in Sergio Gomez’s free-kick to force extra time.
Ancelotti felt Sociedad should have been reduced to 10 men when Jon Olagasti was only shown a yellow card for a foul on Vinicius. “I thought it should have been a red card,” he said.
Madrid eventually found the winner five minutes from time, as Rudiger rose highest to meet Guler’s corner, nodding home to break Sociedad’s resistance.
“It was an entertaining game with a lot of goals, a lot of errors, and a lot of good things,” Ancelotti said. “The objective is completed, and we’re in the final again.”
Madrid will now await the winner of Wednesday’s semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. The two sides are level at 4-4 from the first leg.
