Real Madrid host Real Sociedad in the second leg of the semi-final of the Copa del Rey at the Santiago Bernabéu at 21:30 hours. After the result in the first leg, a one-nil win for the Whites, Carlo Ancelotti‘s team will look to close out the tie at home against a San Sebastián team that is keen to cause an upset and sneak into the grand final in Seville, which will be played on 26 April at the Estadio de la Cartuja.
Real Madrid on their way to the final
The numbers are clear, Real Madrid have one foot and a half in the final of the Copa del Rey after winning at Anoeta on February 26 with a solitary goal from Endrick. But Real Sociedad have a chance and it would be a mistake for the Whites to go out onto the pitch thinking the job is done.
Real Madrid injuries
Real Madrid come into tonight’s game with five players out for the match. Two of them are long-term absentees, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal. Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos are still recovering from their respective injuries, and Thibaut Courtois, who came back from the international break with an injury, will not be in the squad for the game either, as he has not even been able to train with the group these past few days.
Real Sociedad regains players
Real Sociedad, for their part, have recovered several players who missed the last league game against Rayo Vallecano, which ended 2-1 in favor of the Donostia-based team. Ander Barrenetxea missed the game through suspension, and Nayef Aguerd and Óskarsson are ready after overcoming muscle problems.
On the other hand, Jon Pacheco, who was pushing his options for the game, has not been able to recover in time and joins the confirmed casualties of Sheraldo Becker, Odriozola, Brais Méndez and Arsen Zakharyan.
Real Madrid in search of titles
Real Madrid have emerged victorious in their last ten matches against Real Sociedad, where they have only suffered one defeat and three draws, winning six matches. If Real Madrid manage to get to the final, they will have achieved the first of the objectives they set themselves for this season. While it is true that Real Madrid’s objective is to win the Cup, reaching the final is the least that is required of this team, which is used to leaving this competition in the background. However, Real Madrid are putting all their eggs in the La Liga basket and in the Champions League, where the most decisive part of the competition is yet to be played, with the quarter-final against Arsenal, to be played next week (first leg) in London.
In the league, Real Madrid are in second place, three points behind a Barcelona side that is looking stronger than ever, but Ancelotti’s men will be looking to keep winning as they await the direct confrontation between the two teams in the final part of the season.
Real Madrid line-up
Real Madrid’s official starting eleven for the second leg of the Copa semi-final against Real Sociedad is now known.
- Goalkeeper: Andriy Lunin
- Defenders: Fran García, David Alaba, Raúl Asencio and Fede Valverde
- Midfielders: Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham
- Forward: Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Jr, and Endrick.