Real Madrid booked their place in the Copa del Rey final. They advanced to the quarterfinal stages after defeating Real Sociedad in an exhilarating encounter which ended 3-2. The star of the show was 18-year-old striker Endrick, who finished as the tournament’s leading goalscorer. One of his exceptional contributions was a beautiful nonchalant lobbed finish that underlined his composure and class in an intense and tense knockout match.
That’s how the friendly played out on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Endrick wasn’t waiting around to make his mark. He should’ve—the forward came inches from opening the scoring when his dangerous overhead kick bounced just beyond Alex Remiro’s far post. Madrid’s goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, was crucial in the early stages, making a superb save to deny Martin Zubimendi’s potent effort.
Despite their early control, Real Madrid came under pressure when Real Sociedad opened the scoring on the counter through Ander Barrenetxea. The Basque side capitalized on a flick-on from Pablo Marin. Barrenetxea then skipped in behind Lucas Vazquez before eventually curling a low finish beyond the reach of Lunin. This goal changed the tide and put the pressure back onto the home side.
Real Madrid responded with urgency. In the first half, Vinicius Junior had spun his marker beautifully with great skill, driving infield and providing a wonderfully precise cross for Jude Bellingham. That’s how intense this match was, as Bellingham struck in the 82nd minute to tie the match at 3-3. Endrick’s exquisite finish had already brought Madrid level when they had fallen behind, underlining his importance to the game.
In a shrewd tactical switch, Carlo Ancelotti replaced Kylian Mbappe with Endrick, in search of an important away goal to win the tie. The decision proved wise as Antonio Rudiger scored with a fine header from Arda Guler’s corner with just five minutes remaining. This key goal journeyed Real Madrid into the final, showcasing the depth and talent throughout their roster.
Throughout the match, Remiro made several critical saves, including one from Bellingham that kept Sociedad competitive until the end of regulation. Try as they might, Real Sociedad could not get back into the match after conceding goals at critical junctures.
