Real Sociedad claimed Copa del Rey glory, with goalkeeper Unai Marrero the hero as they defeated Atletico Madrid 4-3 on penalties.
2025/2026 Copa del Rey
5-6
Penalty Shootout
Match Report
Marrero denied Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez in the shootout following an entertaining 2-2 draw at La Cartuja, where Pablo Marin scored the decisive spot-kick.
La Real made a flying start to regulation time.
Just 14 seconds were on the clock when Ander Barrenetxea was on hand to nod home from Goncalo Guedes' cross, but Atletico levelled on 18 minutes when Antoine Griezmann teed up Ademola Lookman for the equaliser.
La Real regained their advantage in first-half stoppage time, with Mikel Oyarzabal calmly slotting home from the penalty spot after Juan Musso felled Guedes.
Atletico levelled for a second time in the 83rd minute as Alvaraz fired into the top corner from just inside the box. Although Diego Simeone's team squandered two glorious chances to snatch victory, with Alex Baena and Johnny Cardoso both failing to hit the target from inside the six-yard box.
Extra time followed, and both sides went close. Musso made a smart double-save to deny Carlos Soler and Orri Oksarsson while, at the other end, Alvarez rattled the crossbar with a 25-yard piledriver.
Penalties loomed as Marrero gave Sociedad the early advantage as he kept out Sorloth and Alvarez.
Though Oksarsson was denied, Soler, Luka Susic and Aihen Munoz were all successful for La Real, before Marin swept the decisive kick into the roof of the net.
1 - El jugador de la @RealSociedad, Ander Barrenetxea, ha marcado el gol más rápido en la historia de las finales de Copa a los 14 segundos, superando a Manuel Badenes con el Valencia en 1952 (17 segundos). Lanza.#LaCopaRTVE pic.twitter.com/xbcKvKn27t
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 18, 2026
Data Debrief: La Real complete Copa del Rey hat-trick
La Real captured their third Copa del Rey title, having also triumphed in 1986-87 and 2019-20.
History was made with Barrenetxea scoring the fastest goal in a final of this competition, surpassing the previous record set by Valencia's Manuel Badenes in 1952 (17 seconds).
Atletico equalised courtesy of Lookman, who became the second Nigerian to find the net in a Copa del Rey final, 29 years after Finidi George struck for Real Betis against Barcelona.
Oyarzabal restored Sociedad's lead from the penalty spot, becoming the first La Real player to score for them in two Copa finals.
It was about as tight a contest as there could be, with Atletico's 19 shots being worth 1.96 expected goals, while La Real managed to create chances worth 1.62 xG from 15 attempts before penalties were required.
Match Events
1' GOAL! Atletico 0-1 Real Sociedad (Ander Barrenetxea)
1' Highlight from Atletico vs Real Sociedad
19' GOAL! Atletico 1-1 Real Sociedad
24' Match Event for Atletico vs Real Sociedad
37' Highlight from Atletico vs Real Sociedad
46' Penalty Goal! Atletico 1-2 Real Sociedad (Mikel Oyarzabal)
52' Highlight from Atletico vs Real Sociedad
60' Highlight from Atletico vs Real Sociedad
63' Highlight from Atletico vs Real Sociedad
82' GOAL! Atletico 2-2 Real Sociedad
91' Highlight from Atletico vs Real Sociedad
97' Match Event for Atletico vs Real Sociedad
98' Highlight from Atletico vs Real Sociedad
Line-ups
Atletico XI: Griezmann, Koke, Musso, Llorente, Le Normand, Lookman, Molina, Alvarez, Matteo Ruggeri, Marc Pubill, Giuliano Simeone
Subs: Oblak, Lenglet, Sørloth, N. Gonzalez, Álex Baena, Thiago Almada, Johnny Cardoso, Javier Boñar, Barrios, Rodrigo Mendoza, Obed Vargas
Real Sociedad XI: Caleta-Car, Guedes, Oyarzabal, Soler, Sergio Gómez, Luka Sucic, Ander Barrenetxea, Jon Aramburu, Beñat Turrientes, Unai Marrero, Jon Martín
Subs: Álex Remiro, Elustondo, Mendez, Yangel Herrera, Takefusa Kubo, Aihen Muñoz, Orri Óskarsson, Wesley, Luken Beitia, Pablo Marín, Jon Gorrotxategi