Real Sociedad was crowned champion of the 2026 Copa del Rey after beating Atlético de Madrid 4-3 in the penalty shootout at the La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, after drawing 2-2 in the 120 minutes of regulation and extra time.
The Basques lift the trophy for the first time since 2021 in a final that had everything, from a goal after 19 seconds to a comeback, including a controversial penalty and a definition from the eleven meters that punished the mistakes of Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth on the colchonero side.
The game started in the worst possible way for Atlético. At 19 seconds, a defensive error led to a cross from Gonzalo Guedes that Ander Barrenetxea headed into the back of the net to make it 0-1, the fastest goal in a Copa del Rey final in many years. The colchoneros reacted and in the 18th minute Ademola Lookman equalized with a shot from the edge of the area that hit the base of the post. However, at minute 45, goalkeeper Juan Musso came out and knocked down Guedes inside the area, the referee signaled a penalty and Mikel Oyarzabal converted it masterfully to send the Basques into the break with an advantage.
In the second half, Atlético continued looking for an equalizer and in the 82nd minute Julián Álvarez received the ball, settled in with class and sent it to the back for the final 2-2 that took the game to extra time. During the additional 30 minutes, Julián Álvarez hit the crossbar in the 99th minute and Juan Musso made a providential double save to maintain the tie. With the score at 2-2 at the end of extra time, the Copa del Rey was decided from the penalty spot.
The end from the 12 steps
In the penalty shootout, Basque goalkeeper Unai Marrero was the hero of Real Sociedad by stopping Sørloth’s shot in the first Colchonero shot. Julián Álvarez also missed his penalty, both errors being decisive for Real Sociedad to win 4-3 in the definition and lift the trophy in front of their fans who traveled en masse to Seville.
For Atlético de Madrid, the defeat is a hard blow that leaves them without the Copa del Rey, thus closing a final that Simeone’s team had in their hands at several moments of the match but could not achieve. The colchoneros leave La Cartuja with the frustration of having been close to the title without being able to achieve it.
However, Atlético still has a pending task this season. The red and whites await their turn in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League, where they will face Arsenal in search of staying alive in the most important European competition on the continent and salvaging something positive from a season that so far has not given them the expected results.