Real Madrid aims for Copa Del Rey final

Real Madrid is poised to take aim at reaching the Copa del Rey final for only the second time in 11 seasons after securing a crucial 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in the first leg of the semi-final. The Spanish giants will look to build on this advantage as they host La Real at the Bernabéu Stadium.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti has given his star players, including Vinícius Júnior, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Federico Valverde, a break from the international break, opting to bench them for Saturday’s 3-2 win over Leganés. This strategic decision will allow them to recover and be fresh for the midweek match.

Real Madrid has a strong head-to-head record against Real Sociedad, with four consecutive wins in their previous meetings. However, they will not take their opponents lightly, considering their recent performances. Los Blancos needed extra time to overcome Celta Vigo in their previous Copa del Rey home game and came from behind to win in La Liga over the weekend.

Real Sociedad, on the other hand, will look to turn their fortunes around after losing the first leg. The team has been boosted by their 2-1 win over Valladolid on Saturday, which ended their six-game winless run. Manager Imanol Alguacil may draw inspiration from their impressive 4-3 win at the Bernabéu in the quarter-final stage of their 2019/20 Copa del Rey-winning campaign.

Real Sociedad’s strong traveling form could also be a factor in the match. They have not lost on the road in the Copa del Rey since January 2023, with eight wins and one draw in their last nine away matches. Ander Barrenetxea, their joint-top scorer in the competition, has a knack for scoring early goals, with all three of his Copa del Rey goals coming within the first 25 minutes.

Real Madrid has a notable trend of scoring first in all four of their Copa del Rey matches this season, with three of those goals arriving before the 20th minute. Endrick has also been in fine form, scoring in each of Madrid’s last three Copa del Rey games, including two before the 30th minute. The stage is set for an exciting second leg, with Real Madrid looking to seal their spot in the Copa del Rey final.