Real Madrid survive Real Sociedad scare to reach Copa del Rey final

Antonio Rudiger's towering header in the 115th minute of extra time sealed Madrid's place in the final, sending the home fans into ecstatic celebration.

The match was a whirlwind of emotions, with five goals in the second half alone. Sociedad, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, stunned Madrid early as Ander Barrenetxea pounced in the 16th minute, leveling the tie on aggregate.

But the hosts were quick to respond. Teenager Endrick, the Brazilian prodigy, showed his class with a brilliant chip over Sociedad's keeper Alex Remiro in the 30th minute, putting Madrid ahead 2-1 on aggregate.

As the tension rose, the drama truly exploded in the final 20 minutes. A freak own goal from David Alaba in the 72nd minute handed Sociedad a lead on the night, putting them 2-1 up. But the relentless Madrid side weren't done yet. Just moments later, Jude Bellingham unleashed a stunning volley to make it 2-2 on the night, pulling his side level once more.

Then, the stakes went through the roof. Aurelien Tchouameni thought he'd put Madrid in front for good with a header in the 86th minute - only for Remiro's calamitous attempted save to turn it into a gift for Madrid. However, Sociedad's captain Mikel Oyarzabal wasn't about to let the tie slip away quietly. In the dying moments of regular time, Oyarzabal rose to power home a header, forcing extra time and making the aggregate score 3-3.

But just when it seemed Sociedad might pull off a heroic upset, Rudiger delivered the decisive blow. In the 115th minute, substitute Arda Guler whipped in a perfectly placed corner, and Rudiger was there to flick a header past Remiro, sending the Bernabeu into raptures.

Madrid's pursuit of an unprecedented Treble remains alive, with their La Liga title hopes still within reach, sitting just three points behind Barcelona. They now shift their focus to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they'll face Arsenal, while also looking to claim their 21st Copa del Rey trophy in what promises to be an electrifying final.

Barcelona's clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday will determine who Madrid will face in the final, with their own semifinal finely poised after a thrilling 4-4 first-leg draw.