Scoreline Advantage:: Real Madrid leads 1-0 on aggregate after the first leg in San Sebastián.
Venue:: The second leg takes place at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 (21:30 CET / 3:30 pm ET).
Madrid's Aim:: Ancelotti seeks his third Copa del Rey trophy with Madrid and is expected to field a strong lineup, potentially including returning stars like Valverde, Tchouaméni, Vinícius, and Rodrygo. Andriy Lunin is confirmed to continue in goal for the cup competition.
Sociedad's Hope:: Despite recent struggles, Imanol Alguacil's side draws inspiration from their 4-3 quarter-final win at the Bernabéu in 2020. They welcome back key players Ander Barrenetxea and Nayef Aguerd.
Player Focus:: Eyes are on Real Madrid's Vinícius Jr., looking to overcome a recent dip in form, contrasting with Kylian Mbappé's prolific scoring. For Sociedad, former Madrid player Take Kubo and midfielder Martín Zubimendi (reportedly on Madrid's radar) are key figures.
Why this matters:: A place in the Copa del Rey final is at stake. For Madrid, it's a key route to silverware this season. For Real Sociedad, it represents their main chance to salvage the season and potentially secure European football, currently sitting nine points adrift in the league.
Real Madrid enters this crucial second leg with a slender 1-0 lead, secured by Copa del Rey top scorer Endrick (4 goals in the competition) in Anoeta. Despite mixed results recently, including narrow league wins and a tense Champions League progression, Carlo Ancelotti is prioritizing the Copa del Rey. He rested key players like Valverde, Tchouaméni, Vinícius, and Rodrygo in their last league outing against Leganés, suggesting they will return to the starting XI. David Alaba might also feature from the start after returning from injury and playing international duty. Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin retains his spot as the designated cup keeper, with Thibaut Courtois still sidelined. While Kylian Mbappé is in excellent form (33 goals this season, 18 in 2025), he might initially make way for Endrick to feature alongside Vinícius and Rodrygo in a potent Brazilian attack. The team continues without injured Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, and Dani Ceballos.
Real Sociedad, managed by Imanol Alguacil, face an uphill battle but possess fond Copa memories at the Bernabéu. Their famous 4-3 victory in the 2020 quarterfinals serves as a blueprint for an upset. Recent form has been challenging, with only one win in their last seven matches across all competitions since the first leg. However, the return of influential winger Ander Barrenetxea (from suspension) and defender Nayef Aguerd (rested last weekend) provides a significant boost. They remain without Brais Méndez, Álvaro Odriozola, Arsen Zakharyan, Sheraldo Becker, and Jon Pacheco due to injuries. The focus will be on overcoming their recent goal-scoring struggles (worst in LaLiga's top half) and leveraging the talent of captain Mikel Oyarzabal and playmaker Take Kubo, who faces his former club. Martín Zubimendi's performance in midfield will also be under scrutiny amid links to Real Madrid.
Historically, Real Madrid holds a slight edge in Copa clashes (7-4 wins), but the semifinal head-to-head is tighter (3-2 to Madrid). Sociedad's ability to score multiple goals against Madrid in past cup ties (three times scoring four) serves as a warning for the home side not to get complacent.
When and where is the Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad match?
The match is on Tuesday, April 1st, 2025, at 21:30 CET (3:30 pm ET / 12:30 pm PT / 1:30 pm MX) at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, Spain.
What was the score in the first leg?
Real Madrid won the first leg 1-0 away at Real Sociedad.
How can I watch the match in the USA?
The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ in the United States.
Who are the key players missing due to injury?
Real Madrid are without Carvajal, Militão, Mendy, and Ceballos. Real Sociedad miss Brais Méndez, Odriozola, Zakharyan, Becker, and Pacheco.
Who scored the goal in the first leg?
Real Madrid's young forward Endrick scored the only goal.
High Stakes:: This match determines who advances to the Copa del Rey final on April 26th.
Madrid's Strength:: Expect a strong Real Madrid lineup featuring rested stars, aiming to control the game and protect their lead.
Sociedad's Challenge:: Real Sociedad needs to score at least once to force extra time and twice to win outright (without conceding), relying on their key attackers and past Bernabéu success.
Key Battles:: Watch the duels between Madrid's attack (Vinícius, Rodrygo, Mbappé/Endrick) and Sociedad's defence (boosted by Aguerd's return), and the midfield contest featuring players like Tchouaméni, Bellingham, Zubimendi, and Marín.
Can Real Sociedad pull off another Bernabéu upset, or will Real Madrid secure their spot in the final? Let us know your predictions!
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