By 90min | Created at 2025-03-31 23:14:20 | Updated at 2025-04-02 10:55:58
1 day ago
Real Madrid are aiming to return to the Copa del Rey final when they face Real Sociedad in the second leg of their semi-final tie.
Brazilian teenager Endrick has struggled for minutes during his debut season in the Spanish capital, but he produced the goods in the first leg. His strike in San Sebastian proved to be the difference between the two sides, with Madrid hopeful of completing the job on home soil.
Carlo Ancelotti's side are 20-time Copa del Rey winners, with their last triumph arriving in 2023. Before that, they hadn't reached the final since 2014.
Sociedad lifted this trophy for a second time in 2020, with Imanol Alguacil returning them to the promised land, but 2024/25 has so far been an ordeal for the Basque club. They enter the second leg having exited the Europa League before the international break, but a victory over Real Valladolid at the weekend saw them climb up to tenth in La Liga.
Madrid, meanwhile, were far from convincing as they came from behind to beat Leganes 3-2. Barcelona's victory over Girona on Sunday means Carlo Ancelotti's side are three points back in the title race.
Here is 90min's guide to the clash.
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad head-to-head record (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
Real Madrid 3-2 Leganes - 29/03/25 | Real Sociedad 2-1 Real Valladolid - 29/03/25 |
Villarreal 1-2 Real Madrid - 15/03/25 | Real Vallecano 2-2 Real Sociedad - 16/03/25 |
Atletico Madrid 1-0 (2-4p) Real Madrid - 12/03/25 | Man Utd 4-1 Real Sociedad - 13/03/25 |
Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano - 09/03/25 | Real Sociedad 0-1 Sevilla - 09/03/25 |
Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid - 04/03/25 | Real Sociedad 1-1 Man Utd - 06/03/25 |
How to watch Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad on TV - UK & US
United Kingdom | Premier Sports Player, Premier Sports 1 |
United States | ESPN+, fuboTV, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes |
Canada | Not televised |
Thibaut Courtois is yet to return to Real Madrid training / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages
Real Madrid were without number one goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the weekend, and the Belgian international hasn't trained ahead of the second leg. Thus, it's expected that Andriy Lunin will retain his place between the sticks.
Ancelotti shuffled his pack for the first leg, and we shouldn't expect Madrid to be at full strength on Tuesday. Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo were eased back in at the weekend after returning from South America, and the pair could be back in the XI for the second leg.
Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are out for the season, while Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy are hopeful of returning in time for Madrid's Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Real Sociedad
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Real Sociedad (4-2-3-1): Lunin; Vazquez, Asencio, Alaba, Garcia; Modric, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Brahim, Vinicius; Endrick.
Mikel Oyarzabal is Real Sociedad's leading goalscorer this season / Soccrates Images/GettyImages
The once highly regarded Ander Barrenetxea has endured a down year in San Sebastian, but he'll be back in Imanol's XI on Tuesday after he missed Saturday's victory over Real Valladolid through suspension.
The 23-year-old will operate in Sociedad's front three alongside leading goalscorer Mikel Oyarzabal and livewire Takefusa Kubo.
Martin Zubimendi will function as the visitors' midfield lynchpin amid transfer interest from Madrid and Arsenal.
Nayef Aguerd, Sheraldo Becker, Arsen Zakharyan and Jon Pacheco are likely to miss the second leg, while Brais Mendez is a doubt.
Real Sociedad predicted lineup vs Real Madrid
Real Sociedad predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-3-3): Remiro; Traore, Zubeldia, Elustondo, Munoz; Sucic, Zubimendi, Marin; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea.
We know that this Madrid team are far from bulletproof, and there was further proof of their fallibility at the weekend.
A busy April for the hosts begins on Tuesday, and Ancelotti's astute squad management will be put to the test with Madrid aiming to compete on several fronts deep into the 2024/25 season. The boss won't be afraid to rotate in midweek despite the significance of this bout, with Endrick's strike in the first leg offering them some breathing room.
Sociedad were once a side capable of mixing it with Spain's very best, but they've looked like a shell of themselves this term. Saturday's win was their first in over a month.
Madrid are bound to surrender high-quality openings to their visitors and they won't have Courtois to bail them out, but this could be another occasion when their superstar talent in attack gets them over the line.
