Atletico Madrid-Real Sociedad: Where will the Copa del Rey final be won and lost?

Atletico Madrid Los Colchoneros are always one of the favourites for the competition, but the truth is it has been 13 years since they were last here – that ended with an iconic win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. Seeing off fourth-tier Atletico Baleares 3-2, Atletico were pushed by Deportivo La Coruna in the following round, with only an Antoine Griezmann free-kick separating the sides (1-0). The arrival of Ademola Lookman sparked excitement at the end of the January transfer window, and that went into overdrive after he helped inspire a brilliant 5-0 win over Real Betis in the quarter-finals.

The semi-finals drew Atletico Madrid against Barcelona, thumping the Catalans 4-0 at the Metropolitano, and holding onto a 4-3 aggregate win at Camp Nou. Real Sociedad After dismissing SD Negreira 3-0 and Reus 2-0 in the first two rounds, La Real were pushed to the limit by second tier Eldense, needing a 96th minute winner from Pablo Marin to progress. Real Sociedad needed more heroics to beat Osasuna, with Igor Zubeldia grabbing an equaliser to make it 2-2 in the 92nd minute, before they won 6-5 on penalties.

It was an 86th winner from Orri Oskarsson, giving light to the excellent song, that proved the winner against Alaves in a 3-2 victory in the quarter-finals. Arguably the semi-finals were the most comfortable of all for Real Sociedad, beating Basque rivals 1-0 in both legs. Despite the right scoreline, with Pellegrino Matarazzo’s impact now in play, they were much the better side.

How are both sides arriving at the final? Atletico Madrid Euphoric. Diego Simeone said his side have come back to earth after knocking Barcelona out of the Champions League as well as the Copa del Rey.