What a night for the history books! On Saturday, April 18, 2026, Seville became the stage for a Basque masterpiece. Real Sociedad defeated Atletico Madrid 4-3 on penalties after a heart-stopping 2-2 draw at the Estadio La Cartuja, clinching their fourth Copa del Rey title.
Under the leadership of American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, who has transformed the club since his December appointment, La Real proved that grit and speed can overcome even the most seasoned giants.
1. Match Highlights: A Record-Breaking Start
The final exploded into life before many fans had even found their seats, setting the tone for an incredible 120 minutes of football.
The Fastest Goal (14”): Real Sociedad made history with the quickest goal ever scored in a Copa del Rey final. Gonçalo Guedes burst down the flank and delivered a perfect cross for Ander Barrenetxea, who headed home inside 14 seconds!
Atleti’s Response (19’): Diego Simeone’s men didn't panic. Antoine Griezmann—playing in one of his final games for the club—laid off a pass to Ademola Lookman, who drilled a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
The Captain’s Calm (45+1’): On the stroke of half-time, Atleti keeper Juan Musso was judged to have fouled Guedes. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and coolly slotted the penalty home to give La Real the lead.
The Alvarez Thunderbolt (83’): With Atleti piling on the pressure, Julián Álvarez unleashed a strike of pure quality into the top corner, forcing the game into extra time and eventually the dreaded shootout.
2. The Shootout: Marrero the Hero
When the whistle blew after 120 minutes, it was down to nerves of steel.
Unai Marrero emerged as the giant in goal, denying two of Atleti's most dangerous strikers to set the stage for Pablo Marín to smash home the winning kick.
3. Strategic Impact: The Matarazzo Revolution
Matarazzo’s First Trophy: The American manager has resuscitated Real Sociedad’s season, moving them from a mid-table struggle to Cup champions in just four months.
Griezmann’s Goodbye: For Antoine Griezmann, it was a bittersweet night. He showed glimpses of his legendary quality, but the trophy remains elusive as he prepares for his summer move to Orlando City in MLS.
History Repeated: In a spooky coincidence, the last time these two met in a final (1987), it also ended 2-2 with Sociedad winning on penalties.