Real Madrid needs extra time to oust Real Sociedad and advance to Copa del Rey final

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid needed extra time to get past Real Sociedad and reach its second Copa del Rey final in three seasons on Tuesday.

Antonio Rüdiger scored the decisive goal in extra time at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to allow the Spanish powerhouse to advance 5-4 on aggregate score.

Madrid had won the first leg 1-0 in February, but Sociedad took the second leg 4-3 after Mikel Oyarzabal scored in stoppage time in regulation, when both teams scored twice after the 80th minute.

Madrid will play the April 26 final in Seville against either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, which play their second leg on Wednesday at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium. The teams drew 4-4 in Barcelona in the first match.

Madrid beat Osasuna to win its 20th Copa title in 2023. Sociedad won its third in 2020 when it beat Basque Country rival Athletic Bilbao. Sociedad eliminated Madrid in the quarterfinals that season with a 4-3 win at the Bernabeu.

Rüdiger’s extra-time goal on Tuesday came with a header off a corner kick taken by Arda Güler in the 115th.

The visitors had opened the scoring with Ander Barrenetxea in the 16th before Endrick equalized with a nice flick over Sociedad goalkeeper Álex Remiro in the 30th.

Sociedad moved ahead with an own-goal by David Alaba in the 72nd and Oyarzabal added to the lead in the 80th. Madrid rallied with Jude Bellingham in the 82nd and Aurélien Tchouaméni in the 86th.

Madrid was minutes away from advancing when Oyarzabal scored with a header three minutes into stoppage time to extend the match.