Sociedad Seal Fourth Copa del Rey

Real Sociedad won their fourth Copa del Rey title after overcoming Atlético Madrid in a closely contested final that was decided by a penalty shootout. The match, held in Seville on Saturday, ended 2–2 after extra time, with Sociedad prevailing from the spot to secure the trophy and deny Atlético a long-awaited piece of silverware.

Atlético Madrid approached the final with mixed recent form, having managed only one win in their previous five matches across all competitions. Although they had progressed to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League despite a defeat to Barcelona, Diego Simeone’s side were unable to convert this domestic opportunity into success. The defeat means Atlético remain without a major trophy for five years, while their pursuit of an 11th Copa del Rey title—last achieved in 2013—continues.

The final began with immediate intensity. Real Sociedad took the lead just 14 seconds after kick-off through Ander Barrenetxea, setting a record for the fastest goal in a Copa del Rey final. Atlético responded in the 18th minute, when Ademola Lookman equalised to bring the match back on level terms.

Sociedad regained the advantage in first-half stoppage time. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty to give his side a 2–1 lead at the interval. Atlético continued to apply pressure in the second half and eventually found an equaliser with seven minutes remaining in normal time, as Julián Álvarez scored to make it 2–2.

With no further goals in either regulation or extra time, the match proceeded to penalties. Real Sociedad goalkeeper Unai Marrero proved decisive in the shootout, saving attempts from Alexander Sørloth and Julián Álvarez. Pablo Marín then converted the winning penalty, ensuring victory for the San Sebastián club.

This success marks Real Sociedad’s first Copa del Rey triumph since 2020 and their fourth overall title in the competition. It also represents a significant achievement for head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. Born in New Jersey, he became the first American coach to win a major trophy in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Matarazzo took charge of Real Sociedad in December, at a time when the club was positioned just two points above the relegation zone in La Liga. Within four months, he guided the team to a domestic cup title and improved their standing in the league to mid-table, reflecting a notable turnaround in performance and results.

Match Details

The match featured early scoring, sustained pressure from both sides, and a decisive penalty shootout, culminating in Real Sociedad lifting the Copa del Rey trophy after a balanced and competitive final.