Real Sociedad lifted the Copa del Rey trophy after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Atlético Madrid in the final held at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville on April 6, 2024. The win marked the Basque club’s first major domestic title since 1987 and ended Atlético’s hopes of completing a domestic double.
The decisive moment came in the 33rd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty after Atlético defender César Azpilicueta was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box following a VAR review. Oyarzabal, who has been instrumental in Real Sociedad’s resurgence under head coach Imanol Alguacil, calmly dispatched the kick past Jan Oblak to give his side the lead.
Atlético Madrid, managed by Diego Simeone, dominated possession and created several chances throughout the match, particularly in the second half. Antoine Griezmann came closest to equalizing with a curling effort that struck the post in the 68th minute, while Álvaro Morata had a header saved brilliantly by Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro in the 79th minute.
Remiro, who has been a cornerstone of Alguacil’s defensive setup, made five key saves, including a double-stop in the 85th minute to deny Marcos Llorente and Ángel Correa in quick succession. His performance earned him the man of the match award, a rare accolade for a goalkeeper in a Copa del Rey final.
The victory completes a memorable season for Real Sociedad, who also secured a fourth-place finish in La Liga to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. It is the club’s first Copa del Rey triumph since 1987, ending a 37-year wait for silverware in Spain’s premier knockout competition.
For Atlético Madrid, the loss extends their wait for a major trophy to over a year, despite their strong league showing. Simeone’s side finished second in La Liga behind Real Madrid but will now turn their focus to the UEFA Champions League semifinal clash against Borussia Dortmund.
The match was attended by over 57,000 fans at Estadio La Cartuja, a neutral venue traditionally used for the Copa del Rey final. The atmosphere was split evenly between the two sets of supporters, with Real Sociedad’s contingent creating a vibrant backdrop in the north stand.
Historically, this was the first time Real Sociedad and Atlético Madrid have met in a Copa del Rey final. Atlético had previously won the competition 10 times, most recently in 2021, while Real Sociedad’s last appearance in the final was in 1987, when they defeated Atlético Bilbao to claim their last title.
Looking ahead, Real Sociedad will begin their 2024-25 La Liga campaign in mid-August, aiming to build on their cup success and Champions League qualification. Atlético Madrid will prepare for their Champions League semifinal first leg against Dortmund on April 30, followed by the return leg on May 8.
For fans wanting to relive the key moments, full match highlights and post-match interviews are available on the official La Liga and Copa del Rey websites. Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of European football’s most compelling stories.
