COPA DEL REY: Lunin saves Real Madrid against a Real Sociedad lacking precision (0-1)

A very poor Real Madrid took an important step towards the final of the Copa del Rey 2024-2025. The merengues visited the Reale Arena to face the Real Sociedad in the first leg of the semifinals of the competition and, despite being tremendously inferior to their rivals, managed to win thanks to a goal from Endrick. However, the tie is more open than ever and everything will be decided at the Bernabéu.

The team led by Carlo Ancelotti once again demonstrated their complete dependence on individual talents to achieve results, as they are very lacking at the collective level. The merengues showed a thick and dull game once again, and relying on the great saves of Andriy Lunin, they managed to strike first in the clash against the donostiarras and will face the return leg with an advantage on the aggregate score, although the team of Imanol Alguacil is still alive.

Endrick gave the advantage to a weaker Madrid in the first half

The first 45 minutes were very tough for the merengues, who were overwhelmed by their rival. The 'txuri-urdin' took to the field of Anoeta with blood in their eyes, and Takefusa Kubo sent a warning shortly after the referee's initial whistle, although the Ukrainian goalkeeper made a providential save to prevent an early goal.

The locals took control of the possession and hovered around the Madrid area, although without much danger, while the merengues took refuge in their half and sought to counterattack. Under this formula, Endrick would manage to break the deadlock. After a good through ball from Bellingham, the Brazilian found himself one-on-one with Álex Remiro and scored the first and only goal of the night with a great finish.

The Real continued their siege in the Madrid territory, but their lack of precision prevented them from getting back into the match. The whites, for their part, settled into defense and relied on the monumental saves of Lunin, who managed to keep his goal intact with several outstanding stops, sending the match into halftime with much still to define.

The referee stopped the match due to chants against Raúl Asencio

Moments of great uncertainty were experienced during the last minutes of the first half of the match between Madrid and Real. When the game was about to reach halftime, the main referee, José María Sánchez Martínez, stopped the match after speaking with Dani Ceballos and Vinicius Jr., who had warned him about some chants that had occurred in a section of the Reale Arena stands against Raúl Asencio.

A section of the 'txuri-urdin' fans chanted "Asencio, die" several times, prompting the referee, responding to the request of the merengue captain, to warn the players and the benches that he would activate the anti-racism protocol and ask for an announcement over the loudspeaker to cease the racist, xenophobic, and intolerant chants.

Subsequently, a very clear message was displayed on the stadium screens as part of the aforementioned protocol, which read "No to racist, xenophobic, and intolerant chants. Cheer and support the team while respecting the opponent". All this while a warning was sounded over the stadium's loudspeaker to cease the lamentable and reprehensible event.

Lunin rescued Madrid in the second half

Upon returning from the locker rooms, both teams maintained the trend of the first half. Real approached the Madrid area with astonishing ease, but their forwards failed to capitalize on their opportunities in front of goal. However, they did manage to scare the whites in the first minute of the second half with a couple of close-range shots from Oyarzabal and Kubo, both of which were well dealt with by the Ukrainian goalkeeper.

Later, Endrick could have confirmed his double with a great chance inside the area, but his powerful left-footed shot hit the crossbar. This opportunity, along with another shot from Bellingham that forced Remiro to make a brutal save, were the only two approaches from the team in the second half, as the donostiarras took charge of diminishing their presence on the field.

Despite this, the lack of precision that has plagued Imanol Alguacil's team this season ultimately cost them, as none of their forwards managed to capitalize on the chances created in the final third of the field. Finally, and despite the insistence of the 'txuri-urdin', the merengues managed to withstand thanks to the reflexes of their goalkeeper and struck first in the tie.

Thus, the team led by Carlo Ancelotti will return to the capital with a one-goal advantage on the aggregate score. However, given what was seen on the field of Anoeta this Wednesday night, the Real Sociedad is more alive than ever and the chances of burying the whites at the Santiago Bernabéu are extremely real. The ticket to the final will be contested on April 1.

Technical sheet of the match:

• Real Sociedad, 0: Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd (Elustondo, min. 77); Aihen (López, min. 84); Zubimendi, Sucic (Marín, min. 64); Kubo, Brais Méndez, Barrenetxea (Becker, min. 64); Oyarzabal (Óskarsson, min. 77).
• Real Madrid, 1: Lunin; Asencio (Lucas Vázquez, min. 46), Tchouameni, Rüdiger, Fran García; Ceballos, Camavinga (Mendy, min. 88); Arda Güler (Rodrygo, min. 84), Bellingham, Vinicius (Brahim Díaz, min. 84); Endrick (Alaba, min. 72).
• Goals: 0-1, Endrick (min. 19).
• Referee: Sánchez Martínez.
• Stadium: Reale Arena.