Endrick’s Strike Secures Narrow Win for Real Madrid Over Real Sociedad in Copa del Rey Semifinal
Real Madrid took a crucial step towards the Copa del Rey final with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their semifinal clash on Wednesday. The decisive moment came from young forward Endrick, whose well-placed strike secured the win at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian.
The match was not without its controversies, however. Just before halftime, the game was temporarily halted due to troubling chants directed at Madrid defender Raul Asencio. Additionally, a video surfaced on social media showing a Real Sociedad fan making monkey gestures towards Vinicius Junior, highlighting ongoing issues of racism in football.
On the pitch, Endrick broke the deadlock in the 19th minute, finishing expertly with the outside of his boot after racing onto a diagonal ball from Jude Bellingham. This goal marked Endrick’s sixth of the season, with four of those coming in the Copa del Rey, showcasing his growing importance to the team.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was forced to make adjustments to his lineup, missing star player Kylian Mbappe due to a dental issue, along with Fede Valverde and Thibaut Courtois. Despite these absences and several rotations—including starts for Arda Guler, Fran Garcia, and Eduardo Camavinga—Madrid controlled much of the match.
Vinicius Junior came close to extending the lead with a low shot that was expertly saved by Sociedad’s goalkeeper Alex Remiro. At the other end, Madrid’s Andriy Lunin made a remarkable double save early in the second half, denying attempts from Mikel Oyarzabal and Takefusa Kubo.
Madrid nearly doubled their lead when Endrick’s powerful shot hit the crossbar, and Remiro was called into action again to thwart another long-range effort from Bellingham as the match drew to a close.
With this narrow victory, Real Madrid holds the advantage heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 1.
