Ademola Lookman finds the net as Atletico Madrid falls to Real Sociedad in Copa del Rey championship match

Real Sociedad's Spanish forward Mikel Oyarzabal and his teammates celebrated with the trophy after winning the Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid at La Cartuja stadium in Seville on April 18, 2026, with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory following a 2-2 draw.

The decisive penalty shootout was triggered after a gripping final that saw Real Sociedad edge Atletico Madrid, with Pablo Marin scoring the winning penalty after Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez missed from the spot for Diego Simeone's Atletico.

Ander Barrenetxea headed Real Sociedad ahead after just 14 seconds, but Ademola Lookman levelled for Atletico, and Mikel Oyarzabal put the Basque side ahead from the penalty spot before the break, only for Alvarez to rescue Atletico and force extra time and ultimately penalties with a superb strike.

Real Sociedad's season had seemed set to be one of struggle until American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was appointed in December, and he resuscitated their campaign, leading to a historic Copa del Rey win, the club's fourth in its history.

Real Sociedad goalkeeper Unai Marrero, who saved two penalties, reflected on the victory, saying, "It's a moment to enjoy, to dream and to believe… the kid who dreamed of this… has done it."

Atletico captain Koke, meanwhile, lamented his team's mistakes, saying, "We did everything we could, we had to row against the current from the start," and acknowledged that "we have to congratulate La Real, that's life, it hurts but we have to continue."

The match at La Cartuja stadium was a battle between two teams that often attack fast and direct, with Real Sociedad netting the quickest ever goal scored in a Copa del Rey final, as Goncalo Guedes scampered away down the left and crossed for Barrenetxea to head beyond Juan Musso before the Rojiblancos had even touched the ball.

Simeone's side, who last won the competition back in 2013, wrestled their way back level through Lookman, who spied a route to goal and drilled into the bottom corner after Antoine Griezmann laid off the ball to him on the edge of the box.

Atletico goalkeeper Musso, chosen ahead of the fit-again Jan Oblak, handed La Real the lead again just before the break, clumsily clattering Guedes fists first as the Portuguese leapt for a header, and Oyarzabal sent Musso the wrong way from the resulting penalty.

After a first half in which they struggled, Atletico began to build some pressure after the interval, with Griezmann lashing over and Lookman whipping a shot high and wide as La Real tried to stave off the Rojiblancos, who dominated the ball.

Simeone called for his battering ram, sending on Norwegian target man Sorloth, but it was Alvarez who eventually scored for Atletico, taking a neat touch to spin on the edge of the box and then another to plant the ball in the top corner for his 19th goal of the season.

Atletico had chances to win it in stoppage time, with American Johnny Cardoso firing a golden opening wide of the far post with just goalkeeper Unai Marrero to beat, and Musso making a fine save to thwart Icelandic striker Orri Oskarsson as he tried to turn home a rebound in extra time.

At the other end, Alvarez crashed a shot off the crossbar from long range, with both teams creating enough opportunities to win it before penalties, where Marrero denied both Sorloth and Alvarez on Atletico's first two penalties, and Musso stopped one from Oskarsson to give Atletico a chance.

However, Marin made no mistake with Real Sociedad's fifth penalty to spark wild celebrations, leaving Atletico to lick their wounds and rue their mistakes, with their last realistic chance of silverware this season now in the Champions League, where they face Arsenal.

Koke reflected on the defeat, saying, "We have a beautiful challenge — we want the Champions League, we will do everything we can to win it, but this is a sad night," as Atletico looks to bounce back from their Copa del Rey heartbreak.