Key Takeaways:
- Real Sociedad sealed a 1-0 victory over Athletic Club last night at Reale Arena, completing a 2-0 aggregate win in the Copa del Rey semi-final
- Mikel Oyarzabal converted a decisive penalty with four minutes remaining to secure La Real’s place in the final
- Real Sociedad will compete for their fourth Copa del Rey title when they face Atletico Madrid in the final
Intense Basque Derby Under the Spotlight
With an electric crowd fuelling the atmosphere at Reale Arena, Athletic Club nearly stunned the home supporters inside the opening two minutes as Alex Berenguer’s header drifted just wide of the target. Both sides demonstrated attacking intent from the outset, leading to an end-to-end contest in this high-stakes Basque derby.
💙 El mejor día para conseguirlo.
©️ Nuestro capi sigue haciendo historia y se convierte en el máximo goleador de la historia de Anoeta. Zorionak, Oyar! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/7VHvf29YuU
— Real Sociedad Fútbol (@RealSociedad) March 4, 2026
Carlos Soler threatened to break the deadlock for Real Sociedad, forcing a superb one-handed stop from Alex Padilla following an expertly taken free-kick. Despite a flurry of promising moves, clear-cut chances were scarce as both sets of players struggled for perfect cohesion in the final third. Notably, Soler spurned a golden opportunity ten minutes before the interval, miscued in front of goal with only Padilla to beat.
Momentum Shifts After the Break
After conceding most of the possession during the first half, Athletic Club returned with renewed purpose. Inaki Williams came agonisingly close to dragging his side back into the contest after skilfully bypassing Sergio Gomez, but Gomez recovered to deflect the effort away from goal. Moments later, Gomez intervened once more, thwarting Oihan Sancet’s breakaway with a perfectly timed challenge.
As the visitors pressed for a breakthrough, Berenguer again caused concern with a shot flashing wide. However, their eagerness to force an equaliser left them vulnerable to rapid counter-attacks from the hosts.
Oyarzabal Delivers the Decisive Moment
With four minutes remaining, Real Sociedad were awarded a penalty, providing Mikel Oyarzabal the opportunity to settle the affair. Despite Padilla’s attempts to unsettle him, the Sociedad captain kept his composure and dispatched the spot-kick. This strike effectively ended Athletic Club’s hopes, sending La Real into their first final in front of fans since 1988 and granting a chance to lift the trophy for the fourth time, following their most recent success in the ‘2020’ final played in 2021.
Looking Ahead to the Final
Real Sociedad’s victory sets up a Copa del Rey showdown against Atletico Madrid, offering an opportunity to claim their fourth crown. Fans and analysts alike will be eager to see if La Real can convert this momentum into silverware in their first fan-attended final appearance in over three decades.
