Real Sociedad defeats Athletic Bilbao to reach the Copa del Rey final

Real Sociedad secured their place in the 2025/26 Copa del Rey final by winning an exciting clash against Athletic Bilbao. The decisive moment of the second leg came when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty, giving his team a 1-0 lead which the visitors from Bilbao could not overturn before the final whistle. This victory holds special significance as it was achieved in the prestigious Basque Country derby, providing extra satisfaction for the fans from San Sebastián. Real Sociedad's final opponent will be Atlético Madrid. The team led by Diego Simeone returns to the final of this competition after a 13-year break, causing great excitement in the Spanish capital. The Madrid side earned the right to play for the trophy a day earlier by eliminating FC Barcelona. Spanish media emphasize that a clash between Atlético and Real Sociedad in a cup final is a rare occurrence—the last time such an event took place was forty years ago. The match is scheduled for the La Cartuja stadium in Seville, which has hosted decisive matches for the national trophy for years. The Copa del Rey, officially known as the Copa del Rey, is the oldest football competition in Spain, inaugurated in 1903. Over the decades, the tournament format has evolved, but its prestige remains unchanged, constituting, alongside the national championship, the most important goal for Spanish clubs. The media is also abuzz about the squad situations of the finalists. At Atlético Madrid, the biggest unknown remains the fitness of Antoine Griezmann, whose appearance in the final is in doubt due to injury. The Frenchman was a key figure on the road to the final, and his absence could significantly weaken Simeone's team's attack. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad sees their chance in their stable defensive form, which allowed them to keep a clean sheet against the dangerous Athletic Bilbao. Ticket sales for this spectacle are set to begin soon, and interest exceeds the organizers' wildest expectations. „Simeone agradece a 'La Moreneta' el pase a la final de Copa con un ramo rojiblanco” (Simeone thanks 'La Moreneta' for the passage to the Copa final with a red-and-white bouquet) — Diego Simeone The clubs are now preparing for the logistical challenge of organizing the trip of thousands of fans to Seville. For Real Sociedad, this is a chance to repeat the success from five years ago, when they also celebrated winning the cup at the La Cartuja stadium in a pandemic-delayed final against the same rival from Bilbao. This time, however, the bar is set higher, as Atlético, under Simeone's leadership, is renowned for its extraordinary determination in high-stakes matches and its desire to end a long drought in these specific competitions.