Real Madrid secured their place in the Copa del Rey final after a dramatic 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad in extra time, sealing a 5-4 aggregate victory in their semifinal clash.
Antonio Rudiger delivered the decisive moment in the 115th minute, rising highest to head home and send Los Blancos through.
They now await the winner between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who are set to battle in the other semifinal on Wednesday after a thrilling 4-4 first-leg encounter.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Real Sociedad struck first through Ander Barrenetxea, but Endrick’s sublime chip soon restored parity.
A chaotic sequence saw David Alaba turn the ball into his own net before Mikel Oyarzabal’s deflected effort gave the Basque side a commanding lead.
However, Madrid responded with goals from Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni to pull level.
In a last-gasp effort, Oyarzabal forced extra time with a stoppage-time header, but Sociedad ultimately fell short as Rudiger’s powerful header decided the tie.
Carlo Ancelotti opted to start Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes in attack, with Endrick replacing Kylian Mbappe, who was rested on the bench.
The 18-year-old Brazilian, who had scored the lone goal in the first leg, was lively early on and nearly scored with an acrobatic overhead kick that whistled just past Alex Remiro’s far post.
Bellingham also looked dangerous, but it was Sociedad who broke the deadlock. Barrenetxea latched onto Pablo Marin’s flicked pass, surging past Lucas Vazquez before drilling a low shot into the net, leveling the tie.
Madrid’s response was swift. Vinicius, with a moment of brilliance, used the outside of his foot to thread a perfect pass down the left for Endrick, who calmly chipped the ball over Remiro, his fifth goal in the competition.
Before halftime, Sociedad appealed for a penalty when Takefusa Kubo went down under Vinicius’ challenge, but the referee waved play on.
Ancelotti introduced Mbappe for Endrick, seeking a decisive goal, but it was Sociedad who carved out the better chances.
Andriy Lunin made a spectacular save to deny Martin Zubimendi before Oyarzabal squandered the follow-up.
The visitors reclaimed the lead in the 72nd minute when Marin’s cross deflected off Alaba and squeezed through Lunin’s legs.
Alaba, returning from a lengthy injury, was again involved as Oyarzabal’s shot deflected off him and past Lunin to make it 3-1.
That setback jolted Madrid into action. Vinicius produced another dazzling run, beating his marker before delivering a pinpoint cross for Bellingham, who volleyed home in the 82nd minute.
Moments later, Tchouameni’s header slipped through Remiro’s grasp, bringing Madrid level at 3-3.
Sociedad refused to go down quietly. In stoppage time, Oyarzabal met Sergio Gomez’s free kick with a well-placed header, forcing extra time.
Madrid pushed for a winner, with Remiro denying Bellingham before the game settled into a more cautious rhythm. Sociedad defended resolutely, with Jon Olagasti earning a yellow card for a cynical foul on Vinicius.
But with just minutes remaining, Rudiger had the final say, meeting Arda Guler’s corner with a bullet header past Remiro, sealing Madrid’s passage to the final.
Meanwhile, Son Heung-min has highlighted the poor condition of South Korea’s home pitches as a factor hindering their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
