Real Madrid will aim to gain an advantage in the first leg when they visit Reale Arena on Wednesday for their Copa del Rey semi-final showdown against Real Sociedad.
The home side is chasing a historic fourth Copa del Rey title, while Los Blancos have their sights set on lifting the trophy for the 21st time.
Real Sociedad last tasted Copa del Rey glory in the 2019-20 season when they edged past their Basque rivals, Athletic Club, with a 1-0 victory in a final that was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That delayed final meant no fans were present to witness La Real's triumph, making their last Copa del Rey win in front of their supporters the 1986-87 final, where they defeated Atletico Madrid on penalties.
Now, just two matches stand between Real Sociedad and a place in April’s final. They have successfully navigated five rounds to reach this stage and are set to face Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey encounter for the first time since February 2020.
To reach the semi-finals, La Real eliminated Jove Espanol, Conquense, Ponferradina, and Rayo Vallecano before securing a 2-0 quarter-final victory over Osasuna, with goals from Ander Barrenetxea and Brais Mendez sealing their progress.
Having already secured the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, Real Madrid are aiming to end the season with four trophies. Carlo Ancelotti’s squad remains in contention across three major competitions—La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey.
After a disappointing run of just two points from three league matches, Los Blancos reignited their La Liga title challenge with a 2-0 home victory over Girona on Sunday. Luka Modric opened the scoring with a spectacular strike before Vinicius Junior sealed the win with a late goal.
This crucial triumph marked their fifth victory in six home league games, bringing Real Madrid level on points with Barcelona at the top of the table. With 13 matches remaining in the title race, they also hold a narrow one-point lead over third-placed Atletico Madrid.
Shifting their focus to the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid are determined to lift the trophy for the second time in three seasons. Their most recent triumph in the competition came in the 2022-23 final, where they defeated Osasuna to claim their 20th Copa del Rey title.
Los Blancos began their current cup campaign with wins over Deportivo Minera and Celta Vigo before edging past Leganes with a dramatic 3-2 victory. Gonzalo Garcia netted a late winner—his first senior goal—to send Ancelotti’s side into the semifinals, where they join Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona.
Although Real Madrid won’t have the home advantage in the first leg, they will be eager to secure a positive result. Their recent record against Real Sociedad is promising, having won their last three encounters, including a 2-0 victory at the Reale Arena in September’s league meeting.
