Real Madrid edged past Real Sociedad with a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday, thanks to a well-placed strike from Endrick. However, the match was marred by controversy as chants targeting Madrid defender Raul Asencio and an incident involving a fan making offensive gestures towards Vinicius Junior briefly halted play before half-time.
The atmosphere at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian intensified when a video surfaced on social media showing a Real Sociedad supporter appearing to make monkey gestures at Vinicius, prompting widespread condemnation.
Despite the distractions, Madrid took control of the tie ahead of the return leg on April 1 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Endrick opened the scoring in the 19th minute, finishing smartly with the outside of his boot after receiving a precise diagonal ball from Jude Bellingham. This marked his sixth goal of the season, with four of those coming in the Copa del Rey, where manager Carlo Ancelotti has provided him ample opportunities to shine.
Ancelotti’s squad was missing key players, including Kylian Mbappe, Fede Valverde, and Thibaut Courtois, due to various issues. The coach opted for a rotation strategy, giving starts to Arda Guler, Fran Garcia, and Eduardo Camavinga, yet the team maintained a strong performance throughout the match.
Bellingham, returning from suspension, was instrumental in Madrid’s attack, while Vinicius Junior came close to extending the lead with a low shot saved by Alex Remiro. Madrid’s goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, also made crucial saves, denying Mikel Oyarzabal and Takefusa Kubo in quick succession early in the second half.
Endrick nearly doubled the lead, hitting the crossbar from the edge of the box, while Remiro continued to thwart Madrid’s efforts, saving a deflected shot from Bellingham and another long-range attempt as the match drew to a close.
In the other semi-final match on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid staged a thrilling comeback to draw 4-4 with Barcelona, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the tournament.
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