Sociedad ends Atletico's Copa del Rey dream
Real Sociedad claimed Copa del Rey glory, with goalkeeper Unai Marrero the hero as it defeated Atletico Madrid 4-3 on penalties.
Marrero denied Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez in the shootout after an entertaining 2-2 draw at La Cartuja, where Pablo Marin scored the decisive spot-kick.
La Real made a flying start to regulation time.
Just 14 seconds were on the clock when Ander Barrenetxea was on hand to nod home from Goncalo Guedes's cross, but Atletico levelled on 18 minutes when Antoine Griezmann teed up Ademola Lookman for an equaliser.
La Real regained its advantage in first-half stoppage-time, with Mikel Oyarzabal calmly slotting home from the penalty spot after Juan Musso felled Guedes.
Atletico levelled for a second time in the 83rd minute as Alvaraz fired into the top corner from just inside the box. Although Diego Simeone's team squandered two glorious chances to snatch victory, with Alex Baena and Johnny Cardoso both failing to hit the target from inside the six-yard box.
Extra-time followed, and both sides went close. Musso made a smart double-save to deny Carlos Soler and Orri Oksarsson while, at the other end, Alvarez rattled the crossbar with a 25-yard piledriver.
Penalties loomed as Marrero gave Sociedad the early advantage as he kept out Sorloth and Alvarez.
Oksarsson was denied, but Soler, Luka Susic and Aihen Munoz were all successful for La Real, before Marin swept the decisive kick into the roof of the net.
La Real captured its third Copa del Rey title as a result, having also triumphed in 1986-1987 and 2019-2020.
