Endrick's Magic: Real Madrid Edges Sociedad in Copa Del Rey Thriller

Endrick's Magic Steals the Show in Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid

So, Real Madrid just edged out Real Sociedad 1-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final. A pretty tense affair, I have to say. The real hero? Endrick, that young Brazilian whiz kid. Honestly, who saw that coming? He absolutely slotted home a brilliant pass from Bellingham, leaving Remiro with no chance. A crucial away goal, and a real boost for Madrid going into the second leg.

A Night of Controversy and Great Goalkeeping

The game was played at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián, and it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. There was a bit of a hold-up in the first half because of some seriously unacceptable racist and xenophobic chants from the stands aimed at Vinicius Jr. The stadium screen showed messages condemning it all – a reminder that this problem is sadly still very much alive in Spanish football. It was a distraction, for sure. But hey, Andrii Lunin, Madrid's keeper, was on fire. He made six saves – the most by any Real Madrid keeper in a game without conceding this season! That’s some serious talent right there.

Missed Chances and Missing Players

Madrid had chances to make it more than just 1-0 after halftime. Endrick even hit the crossbar – so close! And Bellingham forced a great save from Remiro. They were missing some key players, though. Mbappé was out with a tooth extraction (of all things!), along with Courtois and Valverde. You'd think that would hurt them, but they seemed to cope surprisingly well. It definitely added some extra spice to the match though!

Sociedad's Fight and Madrid's Strength

Let's not forget Real Sociedad here. They're a fantastic team, and despite the loss, they're far from out of this. They've got a crazy busy schedule coming up, with important La Liga and Europa League games. Their manager, Imanol Alguacil, has his work cut out for him managing those players' energy levels. Meanwhile, Madrid are really hitting their stride. Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. were both on top form. And that potential Copa del Rey final against either Barcelona or Atlético Madrid? Yeah, that's a huge carrot to chase for Los Blancos.

The Second Leg: A Must-Watch

A 1-0 lead is nothing to sneeze at, but this tie is far from over. The return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu on April 1st is going to be insane. Real Sociedad are strong at home, and Madrid will need to be absolutely on their game to see this one through. It's going to be a nail-biter, I tell ya. It's certainly one not to miss!

A First Leg Full of Drama

This first leg was a rollercoaster. Endrick’s wonder goal, the racist chanting, Lunin’s heroics…it had it all. The second leg is shaping up to be even more dramatic. Get ready for some serious football. You won't want to miss it.