Real Sociedad touches the sky and defeats Atlético in the Copa del Rey final

BarcelonaThe north of Seville became, for a few hours, part of Gipuzkoa. Real Sociedad won their fourth Copa del Rey at the La Cartuja stadium, after beating Atlético de Madrid in a penalty shootout following a match that ended in a two-goal draw. Simeone's team, defeated, will now focus on trying to win the Champions League for the first time after falling to the Basques, who repeat the success of the 2021 Copa final in the same venue, although then they did it without fans, as it was during the pandemic. On this occasion, the loyal followers of the txuri-urdin team were able to experience it live.

A second title in just five years that rewards the good management of president Jokin Aperribay, who has opted for home-grown players, strengthening the team with quality foreigners. In the final, the two goals were scored by players trained at the Zubieta academy: Barrenetxea and captain Oyarzabal.

The final came after a long day in Seville marked by the heat, the presence of thousands of fans without tickets from both teams, and an immense effort by the National Police to prevent altercations, as the relationship between both fan bases is very bad, especially since 1998, when a group of fascist radicals from Atlético murdered Real fan Aitor Zabaleta in Madrid. A giant image of Zabaleta presided over the goal where the Basque fans gathered, who booed the Spanish anthem before the final.

An early goal

And when someone was still whistling, they began to cheer with joy, since, after 14 seconds of play, Barrenetxea already scored the first goal, taking advantage of a defensive error from Madrid. The Basque forward jumped higher than his former teammate Robin Le Normand, beating the Argentine Musso. It was the fastest goal in the history of Copa finals, surpassing that of Badenes, from Valencia, in the 1952 final that Barça won 4-2 against the Valencians. Atlético seemed stunned, but they got into the game, and before the half-hour mark, Ademola Lookman created a beautiful goal to equalize the final. Before halftime, a wild sortie by goalkeeper Musso, trying to clear the ball, hit the head of the Portuguese Guedes, which resulted in a penalty. Oyarzabal, a penalty specialist, like the one that had decided the 2021 final, did not miss.

After the break, Atlético carried the weight of the match. And when it seemed they wouldn't manage to equalize, Julián Álvarez conjured up a beautiful goal that forced extra time. But Real knew how to resist, in extra time, and touched the sky in the penalties, where goalkeeper Unai Marrero shone. In the end, Simeone was a victim of Pellegrino Matarazzo's talent, who made history. Never before had a coach from the United States won the Cup. Matarazzo, who arrived mid-season, and when Real seemed rudderless, has given orders to the team, has encouraged it, and now gives it a Cup. And he ended up having a big party with players and fans. And, all, under the gaze of the banner with the face of Aitor Zabaleta.