With his head fixed on Sevilla, where the Cup final against Osasuna will take place this Saturday, Real Madrid faced a mix of onfield rotation and lingering doubts. The plan was to finish the season strong and secure a clear path into next season with confidence. Goals for the next campaign from Kubo, following a setup by Militao and Barrenetxea in the second half, underscored the team’s attacking potential.
Beyond Mariano’s appearance as a white player for what could be his first and possibly last time at the Reale Arena, a leaner Madrid squad began to take form. Carletto kept Kroos in a protective midfield role for the youngsters, Tchouameni shifted the responsibility in midfield, and Ceballos sharpened the build. Up front, Rodrygo accelerated and moved freely, Vinicius stayed to the left, and Asensio operated on the right, all of them blending together with a quick, almost sugar-cube melt of ideas.
a premier match
The connection between Real Madrid and a notably transformed Real Sociedad proved difficult at first. Tchouameni and Militao created two early threats that Remiro needed to parry, setting a pace that felt more Premier League than Liga. Madrid kept things steady with a cautious approach, not overreaching, as the flow of play favored both teams. Militao later twisted his ankle, lifting the tension around the venue, and Zubimendi nearly opened the home account with a strike against the crossbar. The hosts then found width with a Sorloth–Haaland link that allowed Rudiger and a Brazilian teammate to cover, as Silva and Militao exchanged chances near the post with a decisive intervention.
The duel was electric. Halftime saw the action concentrated around the middle third, with Real Sociedad pressing aggressively while Madrid focused on vertical plays. The atmosphere felt intense, with local supporters chanting while visitors pressed through the axis. Neither side showed a definitive edge, and both goalkeepers, Courtois and Remiro, contributed solid performances that kept the score level going into the second half.
Militao error
The match began to tilt on one misstep. Militao, already under scrutiny, misplaced a ball that allowed Kubo to strike, a lapse that tied the scoreline and raised questions about the Brazilian defender’s consistency. The ball found its way past Courtois, and the Japanese forward converted, altering the rhythm of the game. The defender has faced criticism for rough patches in a critical part of the season, while questions linger about his ability to anchor the backline against top opponents. His future form will be tested when the team meets Haaland again in future clashes, with performance likely pivotal to Madrid’s defensive balance.
The contest grew tenser as the minutes passed. A direct red card for Carvajal further altered Madrid’s plan, and Ancelotti had already made a substitution that shifted the lineup into a new shape. The tactical decorum of the match shifted with these cards, and Madrid’s bench had to adapt quickly to the evolving scenario.
A real breakthrough moment arrived as Real Madrid pressed with a renewed intensity. Real Sociedad began to feel the pressure from Madrid’s improved tempo, and the visitors managed to close the game with a late chance that Barrenetxea capitalized on to seal the result for Madrid. The final moments saw Madrid’s focus sharpen as they defended more solidly and looked for one more clear chance, which did not arrive, but the fight in the team was clear.
Real Madrid reached the Cup final, raising questions about the defense and the cohesion in this period. Ancelotti, visibly frustrated after the whistle, noted that to compete for titles the side must commit defensively and stay highly concentrated. In both Girona and Donosti, Madrid showed fragile moments that prompted worry about the upcoming Sevilla clash. Real Sociedad, by contrast, celebrated a win that kept their own Champions League dreams alive.
During the closing sequence, Madrid demonstrated both vertigo and resilience. The B team showed an appetite to contest every ball, but the overall gap in depth compared with the starting eleven was evident. Even a late dance with Lucas in the 85th minute did not spark a breakthrough for the reserves, though Barrenetxea’s successful strike finally settled the match.
Real Madrid now carries a raft of doubts into the Cup final, with a defense that will be tested and a coach who stressed the need for a tighter, more committed performance. The mood around Sevilla is cautious, while Real Sociedad relished a victory that touched the margins of European competition and left fans hopeful for a strong finish to the campaign. The road ahead remains challenging, but the fight shown on the day offered a glimpse of what the team can achieve when fully focused on the objective. This summary reflects insights from post-match assessments and match reports that attribute the outcome to collective efforts and critical moments in defense and decision-making.