Real Sociedad wins derby to seal Copa del Rey final spot
Mikel Oyarzabal scored the only goal as Real Sociedad booked a place in the Copa del Rey final with a 1-0 win over Basque derby rival Athletic Club, which sealed a 2-0 aggregate triumph.
Oyarzabal tucked home an 87th-minute penalty to seal the victory at Estadio Municipal de Anoeta, teeing up a date with Atletico Madrid on 18 April in Seville.
Carlos Soler forced the first save of the game in the 13th minute as his free-kick was tipped behind by Alex Padilla before Goncalo Guedes was denied by a last-ditch challenge.
Sociedad missed a huge chance to take the lead nine minutes before half-time, but after Guedes was slipped in, Soler was unable to connect with his teasing cross into the box.
Both sides struggled to create any chances of note until late on, when Sociedad defender Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta grabbed the shirt of Yangel Herrera inside the area.
After a lengthy VAR review, referee Cesar Soto Grado pointed to the penalty spot, with Oyarzabal stepping up to send Padilla the wrong way from 12 yards out.
Athletic tried to summon a response late on through Mikel Vesga and Nico Serrano, but neither were able to trouble Unai Marrero as La Real progressed to the final.
