The game ignited just 14 seconds after kickoff. Ander Barrenetxea stunned the Atlético faithful by scoring the fastest goal in Copa del Rey final history, meeting a cross from Gonçalo Guedes with a clinical header. Atlético Madrid, led by Diego Simeone, eventually found their footing through Nigerian star Ademola Lookman, who equalized in the 19th minute.
The drama intensified just before the break when Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty to reclaim the lead. Atlético threw everything forward in the second half, and their persistence was rewarded in the 83rd minute when Julián Álvarez unleashed a spectacular strike into the top corner to level the score at 2-2.
After a grueling 120 minutes of football that pushed both teams to their physical limits, Real Sociedad secured the title with a 3-4 win in penalty shootout, cementing their fourth Copa del Rey trophy and ending Atlético’s dreams of their first domestic silverware since 2020/21 LA Liga title.