Real Madrid sneaked into the final of the Copa del Rey in a game where anything could happen. Real Sociedad took the lead and an imperial Endrick responded with the equalizer. When everything seemed under control for Madrid in the second half, they suddenly found themselves behind in the tie 1-3, 2-3 on aggregate. Madrid equalized in 5 minutes of madness; but Real took the lead once again. Rudiger sealed the win in extra time and Madrid are in the final.
The Real Madrid of sleepy, boring nights appeared on the scene once again. Madrid played their worst possible match since the previous one. And Real, with nothing to lose after the first leg, were not going to speculate. And any reasonably organized team can hurt this Real Madrid. Ancelotti had decided, however, that Endrick would be the star. He didn’t miss the opportunity.
Because it all began as it almost always does at the Bernabéu, with Madrid timidly dominating and unable to get close to Remiro’s area. Endrick, however, wanted it all. In the 6th minute he already gave a warning with a simple shot, but it was a declaration of intent. Two minutes later, he tried a bicycle kick and this time he almost scored to the madness of the crowd. But the initial revelry at Endrick’s impetus was going to be extinguished by Barrenetxea. Along the flank, of course, by Lucas Vázquez.
Lucas didn’t know where he should go, whether to cover the header that ended up as a goal or to cover his marker. No sign of Asencio in the move. Barrene went in and ended up between Lunin’s legs. Silence in the Bernabéu and the ghosts of the past reappeared. Whistles in a Bernabéu increasingly tired of their team’s inability. Meanwhile, in the 26th minute Aguerd was injured and Elustondo came on in his place. The problems for Real were beginning.
Because Real Madrid quite simply lives off the flashes of talent from the players up front. Vinicius invented an outside pass for Endrick who, completely unmarked, finished perfectly with a gentle chip. In the 30th minute Real Madrid equalized and took the lead again in the tie. The Bernabéu gave itself over to the kid, who, if nothing else, certainly puts his heart into it. And lots of it.
Real Sociedad take the lead in the tie
Real Madrid didn’t change much from the first half. The start of the second 45 minutes was uneventful. The minutes passed with timid attacks from Real Sociedad, who prowled Lunin’s area without being very incisive. Real Madrid, for their part, were hugging a supersonic Endrick, he was everywhere on the pitch, always asking for it, getting away from his marker… Crazy for being only 18 years old.
Ancelotti didn’t see it that way, stealing Christmas from us in the 65th minute: he replaced Endrick with Mbappé. The Bernabéu responded with a thunderous ovation for the Brazilian. Mbappé’s ovation, although somewhat less, was not far behind. Imanol wanted to shake up the team, taking off Barrenetxea, scorer of the goal, and bringing on Sergio Gómez. Zubimendi, amid growing rumors of his signing for Madrid, almost put Real ahead again in the 69th minute with a precise header that made Lunin stretch. A save to save Ancelotti’s men. The match continued in that dangerous nothingness in which Madrid did not seek to extend their lead; and Real were unable to hurt Madrid either. The minutes passed and we were approaching the end.
It didn’t take much for Real Sociedad to get back in front on the scoreboard in a move that once again highlighted Real Madrid’s problems. Total defensive passivity on the left flank, and Pablo Marín, who saw no one coming, got into the box, crossed the ball into the area and Alaba put the ball into his own net. Yet another drama at the Bernabéu.
Madrid went into league mode. Well, into 24/25 season mode. Real, this time for real, smelled blood, and had several chances that made the Bernabéu crowd hold its breath. Madrid fans were already getting tired. Vini was booed in the 79th minute and, one minute later, drama struck at the Bernabéu. Because in a strange play, which got messy, it ended in the third goal for Real Sociedad. Oyarzabal. Now, the booing was no longer timid.
Madness at the Bernabéu
The situation had already moved on and, out of nowhere, came the Vini that Madrid needed. A great move down the left wing, he got away from his first marker with a backheel, got to the touchline, played it back, and Bellingham finished with ease. It was the 82nd minute. And Madrid woke up again, as if they only push when they have to. And when they do, they are a whirlwind. Vini had a chance to equalize in the 83rd minute in a one-on-one where Remiro made a phenomenal save. On the subsequent corner, Tchouaméni shot and this time Remiro missed the target on a shot that seemed easy. It was 3-3 and Madrid were ahead in the tie. Total madness at the Bernabéu.
The madness was not going to subside, on either side, because Real, far from feeling the fear of once again being mistreated by the magic of the Bernabéu, pulled the trigger in injury time to tie the tie again. Oyarzabal, who is always in the right place at the right time, took advantage of Lunin missing a cross to make it 3-4 at the Bernabéu; 4-4 on aggregate. Back to square one and this seemed to be going to extra time.
Another extra time
Like Celta, Madrid faced another new half hour of extra time to try to get into the final. And it started well. A run by Mbappé ended with a shot by Vinicius, from the left, that went into the side netting. But it went from strength to weakness and tiredness was setting in. Ancelotti did not make any substitutions, despite having Guler and Brahim warming up from the start of extra time. The first half passed without any news from Real and Madrid, without much strength to stand up clearly in the opposition area. Mbappé had it at the end, but he failed to finish after two good cuts. On to the second half.
Ancelotti, this time, was going to shake things up for the last 15 minutes. Asencio and Rodrygo off; for the aforementioned Guler and Brahim. Oyarzabal and Take also left for Oskarsson and Mariezkurrena. The controversial move was not long in coming. A very hard tackle by Anasagasti on Vinicius resulted only in a yellow card. Because the tackle was clearly a red card. Similar to Mbappé’s at Cornellá. Inexplicable.
The Real Madrid madness can be explained in many ways, but if you need to put a name to it, that name is Antonio Rudiger. He came on in extra time and rose to the occasion when Real Madrid needed him most. In the 115th minute, when almost nothing had happened, he finished off a corner, perfectly placed by Guler, into the back of the net. Madness broke out at the Bernabéu. Again. And it was to be the decisive goal. Because Real Madrid held on to the result to close the night of April 2. End of the Copa del Rey for a Real Madrid side that was sluggish, that played badly, that was out of it at times, that almost fell again… but always finds a way to survive. Next destination, La Cartuja.