Atletico Madrid will face Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday. Atletico reached the final by defeating Barcelona, while Real Sociedad triumphed over Athletic Bilbao.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad – Match preview/team news
Atletico Madrid prepares to face Real Sociedad in the final of the Copa del Rey on Saturday night as they fight for the silverware.
Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona in the semifinal of the Copa Del Rey (4-3 aggregate) to reach the final while Real Sociedad won against Athletic Bilbao (2-0 aggregate) to qualify for the final.
For Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone faces a defensive puzzle as he prepares for the final.
While the team is buoyed by their recent progression to the Champions League semi-finals, fatigue and injuries are mounting.
Midfielder Pablo Barrios is officially sidelined with a thigh injury, while the availability of Jose Gimenez and David Hancko remains highly uncertain; Hancko’s individual training sessions suggest he is unlikely to feature in the starting XI.
In a tactical shift, Juan Musso is expected to retain his role as the “cup goalkeeper” over Jan Oblak.
Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad are set to compete in the Copa del Rey final.
Atletico Madrid reached the final by defeating Barcelona with a 4-3 aggregate score in the semifinals.
Real Sociedad qualified for the final by defeating Athletic Bilbao with a 2-0 aggregate score.
The Copa del Rey final is scheduled for Saturday night.
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This leaves Robin Le Normand to lead a makeshift backline alongside Marc Pubill. Offensively, Simeone will lean on the pairing of Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez, hoping their clinical finishing can overcome the squad’s lack of defensive depth and the physical toll of their crowded fixture list.
Real Sociedad enters the final with the benefit of a full week’s rest, though manager Pellegrino Matarazzo is grappling with his own injury crisis.
The squad will be without Igor Zubeldia, Alvaro Odriozola, and Inaki Ruperez, forcing a reshuffle in the back four.
Additionally, the absence of Yangel Herrera thins their midfield options. However, there is positive news as captain Mikel Oyarzabal returns to the starting lineup fresh after being rested in their previous league outing.
Sergio Gomez is also cleared to play, as his recent domestic suspension does not apply to this competition.
While Takefusa Kubo has returned to the squad, he is expected to begin on the bench given his lack of recent match rhythm. Unai Marrero is set to start in goal, continuing his role as the designated keeper for this tournament run.
Atletico Madrid enters the final with mixed momentum, having lost five of their last six matches across all competitions. Most recently, they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League, though they still advanced to the semi-finals on aggregate. In La Liga, they fell 2-1 to Sevilla last weekend. Despite recent wobbles, they have been dominant in the Copa del Rey, winning four of their last five cup fixtures.
Real Sociedad carries a steadier form into the showpiece, with four wins from their last seven outings. They came off a thrilling 3-3 draw against Alaves in their most recent league match. Their path to the final has been hard-fought, winning seven matches to reach this stage, including four one-goal victories. Although they haven’t beaten Atletico in ten meetings, their cup resilience makes them a formidable finals opponent.
Atletico Madrid: Musso; Molina, Le Normand, Pubil, Ruggeri; Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman; Alvarez, Griezmann
Real Sociedad: Marrero; Aramburu, Martin, Elustondo, Gomez; Soler, Turrientes; Sucic, Mendez, Barrenetxea; Oyarzabal
UK fans can watch it live on ITV4 or stream it for free via ITVX.
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