On one hand, the San Sebastián side arrives with the morale boost of sweeping their classic rival in the Basque derby, while the team led by 'Cholo' Simeone carries the pressure of securing a title to salvage their annual balance. This encounter has a remote but indelible precedent from the 1986/87 season, the date of the only cup final between the two clubs. Although Ernesto Valverde's side threatened to equalize the series as soon as the match began with a header from Álex Berenguer, the solidity of Unai Marrero maintained the home advantage. As the minutes passed, the 'albiazul' midfield took control of the ball and created danger through the shots of Carlos Soler, who demanded the goalkeeper Alex Padilla on more than one occasion, according to the Argentine News Agency. The resolution of the derby came only in the epilogue of the match thanks to a foul by Iñigo Ruíz de Galarreta inside the area. Buenos Aires, March 4 (NA) -- Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid will dispute the final of the Copa del Rey on April 18 at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville, after the Basque side eliminated Athletic Bilbao with a 2-0 aggregate score and Diego Simeone's team surpassed Barcelona by 4 to 3. After the fall of the giants and the resolution of the semifinals, the Sevillian soil will host a clash of styles marked by the urgency of success. Despite the protests of the Bilbao players, the referee maintained his decision and Mikel Oyarzabal executed the penalty with cold blood to the bottom of the net. #AgencyNA At that time, the 'Txuri Urdines' lifted the trophy through the penalty shootout, so this 2026 clash represents a pending revenge for the 'colchoneros' club. For Diego Simeone, the challenge is double, as his personal statistics remind him that he has not yet managed to win a national final in this tournament under his management. Real Sociedad's qualification was sealed in a packed Anoeta against an Athletic that never found the paths to reverse the defeat suffered in the first leg.
