Real Sociedad beat Atlético de Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, 2-2 after extra time and 4-3 on penalties. The result brings Atleti supporters all the way back down to earth after a midweek win over FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League — having eliminated that club from the King’s Cup at the start of March.The result is more than fair. Atleti made mistakes, did not convince in attack and did not defend well at all.

All the credit needs to go to Real Sociedad and American manager Pellegrino Matarazzo, who has completed a marvelous turnaround at a club that was staring relegation right in the face earlier this year. Matarazzo becomes the first American manager to lead a team to a major trophy in one of Europe’s top five football leagues.Derrota en la tanda de penaltis. pic.twitter.com/QHVMSFD9N4— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) April 18, 2026Simeone’s men were stunned from the start following the quickest goal in Copa del Rey final history. Matteo Ruggeri and Robin Le Normand should have defended better, and Juan Musso’s goalkeeping could have been stronger, but this put Atleti in a tough position very early.

Atleti pushed as hard as they could for 18 minutes after and were awarded for their efforts with a great goal from Ademola Lookman. As the first half came to a close, Musso made a more egregious mistake this time while trying to punch the ball away from Gonçalo Guedes, and Real Sociedad were awarded a penalty that Mikel Oyarzabal converted.The start of the second half was filled with frustration for the Rojiblancos. La Real defended brilliantly despite Atlético’s domination in possession, which only paid off when Julián Alvarez scored an outrageous left-footed goal to equalize in the 83rd minute.

In the dying moments of the second half, Álex Baena and Johnny Cardoso both missed massive chances that would have been the game-winners.In extra time, Musso made up for his earlier blunders with a heroic save to deny Orri Óskarsson a potential winner. Alvarez came inches away from scoring the winner with a vicious shot from outside the box that hit the post. Both teams seemed to accept what was coming next, as an already dramatic match got even spicier going to penalty kicks.In the penalty shootout, Atleti’s dreams turned to nightmares, as Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth both missed their attempts.

Musso made the lone save on Óskarsson’s attempt before Nico Gonzalez, Thiago Almada and Baena made the next three. Pablo Marín stepped up and scored the winner as Real Sociedad claimed their fourth Copa del Rey trophy.Let’s jump into some takeaways from the heartbreaking loss. The trophy drought continuesAtlético de Madrid have not won a major trophy since the club since the famous LALIGA victory of 2020/21, and Atlético have not won the Copa del Rey since 2013.

This was their best shot at winning one since, and they blew it.Outside of winning a trophy and breaking a long-standing streak, this was supposed to be a game to generate momentum ahead of a critical tie against Arsenal. Simeone will need to get his squad to quickly lock back in. I can’t help but think back to those few weeks in March last season, where all hopes at a trophy were gone in the span of a month following the controversial Champions League match against Real Madrid and consecutive domestic losses to Barcelona.The stat coming out of the match that hurts the most is in 10 seasons with Atlético Madrid, Antoine Griezmann will leave at the end of the season never having won a major domestic title with the club.Being puro AtléticoMadrid is not about winning trophies.

It never has and never will be for those that truly bleed and red and suffer every match with the club. However, if Atleti fail to defy the odds and win the Champions League, the trophy drought will continue into another season.Given how the club is evolving, with Apollo Sports Capital taking over majority ownership amid larger transfer outlays in the past couple of years, expectations with Simeone are higher and higher each season. A Copa del Rey trophy would’ve taken immense loads of stress off Simeone.

Warranted or not, if the Champions League doesn’t go Atleti’s way, another trophy-less season will have Simeone’s seat a little warmer than he’d prefer.Alvarez and Lookman had big nights — againPrior to his questionable substitution in the second half, Ademola Lookman was causing Real Sociedad all sorts of problems. The Nigerian was by far Atleti’s best player on the night and continues to cement his place as one of the best winter signing…ever.Lookman goals since coming to Atleti:✅ QFs of CdR against Betis✅ Semis of CdR against Barça✅ Playoffs of UCL against Brugge✅ Derbi in LaLiga against Real Madrid✅ QFs of UCL against Barça✅ Final of CdR against Real SociedadBig game player.— Fran (@FranHClO) April 18, 2026Following Lookman’s exit, the attack ran solely through Julián Alvarez. Matarazzo’s low block gave Atleti serious issues the entire night as Simeone’s attack could not seem to brea