Real Sociedad Vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid bagged a long-awaited victory of 1-0 over Real Sociedad in the first leg of the semi-final of the Copa del Rey at the Reale Arena on February 26, 2025, where at least from some points of view, talent, tactics, and controversies made the stage look brighter for what should be an entertaining second leg-a month-and-some-away affair-at Santiago Bernabéu.

General Match Overview

Not that he wasn’t already fielding his best eleven, but we would say Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was looking for some special glory by falling out with Kylian Mbappé, Federico Valverde, and Thibaut Courtois. This allowed younger talent to take the field. The deciding goal was scored in the 19th minute by 18-year-old Brazilian striker Endrick, who executed a great counterattack during which Jude Bellingham delivered a nice lofted pass that Endrick collected with aplomb and slotted home with the outside of his left boot past goalkeeper Álex Remiro.

With several starting players missing, Real Madrid remained solid and determined. Vinícius Júnior dedicatedly took the captaincy for the first time, guiding the team smoothly through the tough passages of the match with a strong presence on the pitch.

Key Performances

Endrick was the man of the match. Apart from his goal, he perhaps could have doubled the lead, but for a fierce second-half shot that crashed against the crossbar. Ancelotti commented, “He is spectacular… His accuracy is off the charts, he’s quick and he still has a lot to improve with the ball.”

His counterpart Andriy Lunin stood strong in goal in place of the rested Courtois and helped deny several opportunities to realistic possibilities of an equalizer for Real Sociedad, especially a crucial close-range save against a header from Mikel Oyarzabal. Under the spotlight and pressure, Lunin was composed; an undeniable commodity for Real Madrid in their goalkeeping area.

Controversial Moments

A section of Real Sociedad supporters was observed chanting offensive remarks at Raúl Asencio of Real Madrid, causing the game to be briefly stopped. Referee José María Sánchez Martínez implemented the anti-hatred protocol and stopped the game to address the issue with the captains and coaches of both teams involved. Over the public address system, an announcement was made against the chants, and shortly after, the match resumed. In explaining his decision to substitute Asencio at halftime, Ancelotti said that the player was emotionally affected.

Concerns About Injuries

An injury was sustained by Ceballos, limping off in the dying moments of the match due to his left leg muscle injury. Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the injury during the post-match conference, expressing an obvious concern about what that means for Ceballos while wishing to welcome some other midfielders in. This would be Luka Modrić’s chance to shine and make a big statement in the upcoming few matches.

Looking Ahead

The narrow victory now gives Real Madrid a slight advantage into the second leg scheduled for April 1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, although the tie is still alive, and Real Sociedad has shown its grit, especially in away matches. Ancelotti said, “We are living a good moment… We should be satisfied. It was an intense match, against an opponent who gave their all and we took a good result for the return leg.”

Imanol Alguacil’s Real Sociedad, for their part, would be looking to seize whatever stray chance came their way during the return leg. In the first leg, Los Txuriurdines had shown their capabilities in troubling Real Madrid’s defense, and with some players returning from injury, they would look even more potent.

Conclusion

The opening leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals threw up a flavorful mix of emerging talent, tactical depth, and moments that proved to be the lifeblood of icons of football in Spain. By the time both teams muster themselves for the decider, the fans are sure to get a worthwhile experience as both sides will definitely be fighting for that place in the final. See more

Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid – FAQs You Didn’t Know You Needed!

1. What makes the Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid rivalry unique?

It’s not exactly like El Clasico, but this fixture has its way of heating up. Real Sociedad is a challenge put forth to Madrid by the footballing pride of the Basque region, challenging the might of Spain’s capital city with tactical brilliance and home-ground fire. Traditional values versus power!

2. Can you tell me about a time when Real Sociedad left Real Madrid historic?

Definitely! The world couldn’t forget the 2019 quarter-final clash where Sociedad snatched the win from the grasp of Madrid 4-3 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Another emblematic one occurred in 2004 when they proved that they roared into an entirely different dimension of play against Madrid to win it 4-2.

3. Who played for both Real Sociedad and Real Madrid?

Interestingly, there are superstars in both jerseys! Xabi Alonso started out at Sociedad before becoming a Madrid legend. Illarramendi actually did the reverse move, and here are others like Ødegaard who had a Sociedad loan spell before heading back to Madrid again.

4. What is the typical Sociedad style that makes it difficult for Real Madrid?

Sociedad’s high-pressure aggressive game unsettles Madrid’s rhythm. Fast passing and possession-based play, along with possession tactics, put Sociedad among the very hardest teams in the mid-table that Madrid has to face every season.

5. What is Madrid’s biggest win against Sociedad?

The biggest win for Madrid came in 1992, with Sociedad lying battered and bruised at 9-0! But the times have been different since then, and already Sociedad is turning out a force to reckon with.

6. How will Anoeta affect the Sociedad team when they face Madrid?

Anoeta is the citadel of Sociedad. It’s going to be a really tough place for any opponent to visit because of the undying support from their fans. Even Real Madrid doesn’t enjoy success here, with Sociedad taking quite some home wins and draws against them recently.

7. What’s a mind-boggling stat about the matchup?

It’s some of the craziest stats that have this: Real Sociedad has beaten Real Madrid more often in Copa del Rey competitions than just about any other La Liga team. Madrid will crush their competition, but Sociedad tends to spoil their fun in the tournaments!

8. Who is Real Sociedad’s top scorer against Real Madrid?

Cristiano Ronaldo, known historically to be a nightmare for Sociedad, stands above everyone else on this front, scoring more than 15 times against them. On the side of Sociedad, legends like Darko Kovačević and Mikel Oyarzabal have been thorns in the flesh of Madrid’s defense.

9. What is the most dramatic moment involving these two teams?

One of the wildest had to be in 2021 when that last-minute equalizer from Vinícius Jr. revived Madrid. Another clash occurred in 2003 when Sociedad led 2-0, but Madrid came storming back to win it 3-2.

10. Where can I find the freshest updates and latest insights into Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid?

Right here on thebloggerplace.com! We shall play match previews, post-match reports, fun facts, and tactics breakdowns that wouldn’t be found anywhere else. Catch all the latest updates! See more