Real won in a dramatic penalty shootout in the final of Spain’s top knockout soccer tournament, held in Seville.
Published April 19, 2026
Real Sociedad defeated Atlético Madrid 4-3 on penalties on Saturday after a 2-2 draw in extra time, with goalkeeper Unai Marrero saving two spot kicks in the shootout to help the team win its fourth trophy.
Sociedad last won a cup competition in 2021, when the postponed 2020 final was also played at Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium, but without supporters due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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This time, the Basque side’s fans saw Marrero save Atlético’s first two penalties from Alexander Sorloth and Julian Álvarez behind the goal.
Atlético keeper Juan Musso then stopped Oli Oscarson’s kick, but Pablo Marin held on and converted the winning penalty.
“I tried to clear my mind. I felt calm and peaceful,” Marin told RTVE. “Reality is my life. I have lived here since I was a child. Winning a title with the biggest team of my life is the best thing I could dream of.”
The last time the two teams met in a final was in 1987, when Sociedad won on penalties to finish 2-2, repeating the task of denying Atlético their bid to win their first Copa del Rey since 2013.
Sociedad took the lead 14 seconds later with a goal from Ander Barrenetxea, but Ademola Lookman equalized in the 19th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal scored a penalty just before half-time to put the Basque team in the lead again.
Álvarez tied the score with Atlético with seven minutes remaining, forcing extra time in a dramatic final.
Diego Simeone’s Atlético had just booked a spot in the Champions League semi-finals, but Sociedad, led by American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, lost the lead twice but won.
fast start
Sociedad dominated Atlético from the start. After Marrero’s punt downfield, Gonzalo Guedes crossed into the box and Barrenetia fired a looping header past his marker and past Musso.
Atlético equalized when Lookman collected a pass from Antoine Griezmann and curled a precise, low shot past the defenders and into the bottom corner.
When Guedes deflected a shot into the side netting, some Sociedad fans thought their team had regained the lead and celebrated, but Musso then fouled Guedes and captain Oyarzabal converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time.
“I’ve never walked on water, but I think it must be like this,” Oyarzabal said. Oyarzabal scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot the last time his team won the Copa.
late drama
Sociedad looked to be hanging on, but Alvarez fired an unstoppable shot from just inside the area, taking Thiago Almada’s pass with his feet and turning to slot the ball into the top corner.
Early in extra time, Musso made a double save from Luka Sutic and Oscarson, and Alvarez hit an upright shot from the opposite side, but both teams ran out of steam while creating chances, resulting in a penalty kick.
As Atlético players lined up in the penalty area, Marrero danced his way over the line and his mental game paid off.
“I knew if it went to a penalty shootout, I had a lot of confidence in myself,” he said.
“So did the team and the fans. I still can’t believe it.”
Matarazzo has undergone a remarkable turnaround at Sociedad since taking over in December, with the club going from above the relegation zone to now seventh in the table and, more importantly, winning a trophy to celebrate his achievements.
Simeone’s Atlético side have one last chance to advance to the last four of the Champions League and face Arsenal.
Atlético captain Koke said: “We have a great challenge ahead of us. We want the Champions League and we will do everything to win it.” “But tonight is a sad night.”
