Na big wahala dey for Seville as Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad lock horn for 2026 Copa del Rey final. The match wey hold for Estadio La Cartuja na one wey fans don dey wait since morning. Both teams don show say dem ready to fight for the trophy wey be the oldest tournament for Spanish football.
For Atletico Madrid side, dem dey look for their first trophy since 2020-21 season. Diego Simeone boys don carry plenty confidence enter this match after dem knock Barcelona for semifinal. But Real Sociedad no be pushover. Under Pellegrino Matarazzo, dem don show say dem get quality to shock anybody. Dem even get inspiration from 1987 when La Real beat Atletico for the only other time both teams meet for final.
Now, make we talk about one man wey dey make noise for Atletico side. Na Ademola Lookman, the Nigeria international wey just join Atletico from Atalanta for February 2026. This boy don become important for the team quick quick. For Copa del Rey appearances, he don score goals, give assists, and create big moments. The biggest one na against Barcelona for semifinal first leg where he score one and assist another for 4-0 win.
Lookman dey chase history for this match. Since 1997 when Emmanuel Amuneke win Copa del Rey with Barcelona, no Nigerian don lift that trophy again. Finidi George reach final that same year with Real Betis but lose. Ikechukwu Uche carry Villarreal to semifinal for 2015 but no pass. Now Lookman get chance to break this 29-year drought.
The match don start with serious action from beginning. Inside just 15 seconds, Real Sociedad don score! Ander Barrenetxea head Goncalo Guedes cross into net and Atletico players just dey look like say dem see ghost. But Atletico no gree give up. Dem respond with their own pressure.
Lookman dey show why dem buy am. He dey run up and down, giving Sociedad defenders headache. One time he work space for box but drag his shot wide. Another time he surge down left and cross for Antoine Griezmann, but the Frenchman no make clean contact. The battle between Lookman and Jon Aramburu na one to watch.
Atletico finally level the score! Lookman collect pass from Griezmann and fire left-footed shot into bottom corner. Game don balance now. The boy dey show spectacular form for Atletico shirt.
But Sociedad no dey sleep. Goncalo Guedes, former Wolves attacker, dey cause plenty trouble. He drive into box, do step overs, and unleash fierce effort into side netting. Another time his effort deflect and hit side netting, make some supporters think say dem score again.
Referee Javier Alberola Rojas give penalty for Real Sociedad after Juan Musso clatter into Goncalo Guedes. Captain Mikel Oyarzabal take the penalty and send Musso the wrong way. Sociedad lead again before half time!
The game dey hot like pepper. Robin Le Normand of Atletico get yellow card for tripping Ander Barrenetxea. Oyarzabal sef get yellow for late challenge on Le Normand. Free-kicks dey fly, corners dey come, and shots dey go everywhere.
Julian Alvarez test Unai Marrero with free-kick for Atletico. Carlos Soler try volley for Sociedad but his effort deflect for corner. The possession stats show Atletico dey control more of the ball, but Sociedad dey dangerous on counter.
This final na big opportunity for both teams. Atletico want their 11th Copa del Rey title while Sociedad want their fourth trophy and second for this decade. The match dey broadcast for many countries. For US, na ESPN Select and ESPN App. For UK, na ITV 4. For Mexico, Sky Sports dey show am. But for Canada, no broadcaster schedule am.
After this final, both teams go return to La Liga action. Atletico go visit Elche on Wednesday while Sociedad go host Getafe at Anoeta. But for now, all eyes dey Seville where history dey wait to be made.
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