Mission accomplished: Real Madrid reaches Copa final

MADRID — It was mission accomplished, said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, after his side fought back from a two-goal deficit to snatch a rip-roaring 4-4 draw with Real Sociedad on Tuesday, giving Los Blancos a 5-4 aggregate win that put them through to the Copa del Rey final.

Ancelotti brushed off questions about a subpar performance by his side, and praised his players' effort in what he considered a highly entertaining encounter.

"We have achieved our goal today, which was to reach the final. There is not much time to think about it," Ancelotti told a post-match news conference.

"It was an entertaining game with some mistakes and a lot of good things. It was fun, and we are in the final.

"I never saw ourselves out of it, because anything can happen at the Bernabeu.

"When we have to come from behind, we never give up. We never give up, especially at home, with the fans by our side."

Ancelotti said David Alaba was not to blame after he deflected two balls into his own goal, calling it "bad luck" for the Austrian defender, but urged his defense to play with more focus moving forward.

"It's not good to concede four goals in a game," Ancelotti said.

"Right now, we are a team that has a lot of effectiveness up-front, but little balance.

"However, we can't ignore what we did in attack, scoring four goals against them is not that easy. I think we are doing quite well."

Madrid, which has won the Spanish Cup only once in over a decade, will play either Barcelona or crosstown rival Atletico in a mouth-watering final in Seville next month.

Antonio Rudiger decided the pulsating tie with a header in the 115th minute.

Real Sociedad, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, took the lead through Ander Barrenetxea, but Endrick's fine chip pulled the 20-time winner level.

An Alaba own goal and Mikel Oyarzabal's deflected effort helped La Real open up a lead on the Spanish champion, but Madrid battled back with goals from Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni.

Oyarzabal grabbed his second in stoppage time to force extra-time, but his side could not hold off Madrid until penalties, with Rudiger's header being the final word.

"I'm very happy, because it was a really hard game, with many comebacks and, in the end, my goal, "Rudiger told Real Madrid TV.

"For me (the goal) was easy, (I made a) good movement, the corner was very good, and because of that we're in the final."

Ancelotti brought Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo back into his starting lineup, leaving Kylian Mbappe on the bench to rest, with Endrick taking his place in an all-Brazilian attack.

The 18-year-old wunderkind striker who netted the only goal in the first leg, was active in the opening phases, sending a dangerous overhead kick narrowly wide of Alex Remiro's far post.

However, it was Real Sociedad which took the lead.

Barrenetxea broke in behind Lucas Vazquez to reach Pablo Marin's flick-on, and drilled a low finish home to put the Basque side level in the tie.

Real Madrid soon found their equalizer. Vinicius played a sensational through ball down the left flank with the outside of his foot, sending Endrick in on goal.

The youngster, top scorer in the Copa del Rey, produced a gorgeous lobbed finish over Romero for his fifth in the competition.

Real Sociedad's Jon Olasagasti was booked for hacking Vinicius, as he threatened to escape on the left, with the visitors working hard to hold off the European champion.

"I thought it should have been a red card," said Ancelotti.

With five minutes remaining of extra time, Rudiger sent Madrid through with his header past the helpless Remiro from an Arda Guler corner.

"Sociedad played very well, it's always difficult against them," Rudiger said.

"But this is Real Madrid and we have to keep fighting until the end. We are in another final, and we will win it."

Agencies