Real Sociedad strikes first at San Mamés with Turrientes goal in Copa semi

Real Sociedad set the tone early in a high-tension semi-final

Real Sociedad left San Mamés with more than just an advantage on the night: they left with the sense of having delivered a statement performance in one of Spanish football’s most demanding stadiums. In a Copa del Rey semi-final played with maximum tension, the visitors embraced the occasion from the opening minutes, taking responsibility for the ball and the rhythm rather than shrinking under the atmosphere.

With the second leg still to come at Anoeta, the tie is far from finished. But the first chapter in Bilbao belonged to the team coached by Pellegrino Matarazzo, who saw his side impose their football, their character and their ambition. The final at La Cartuja remains the prize on the horizon, and this first-leg display suggested Real Sociedad believe they are ready to compete for it.

Matarazzo’s impact and a team that remains unbeaten in 2026

The match also served as another marker of how dramatically Matarazzo has changed the mood around the squad. Real Sociedad, described as struggling only a couple of months earlier, have been transformed into a side now positioned on the doorstep of a cup final. The team, according to the account of the night, have not suffered defeat in 2026 so far, and that confidence showed in Bilbao.

San Mamés, often a stadium where visiting sides are forced into survival mode, instead saw long stretches of play in which Real Sociedad looked like the dominant team. The only thing missing from their performance was a wider margin on the scoreboard. Chances were created, pressure was sustained, and the visitors repeatedly pushed Athletic back toward their own area.

Padilla’s saves keep Athletic alive as chances arrive early

One of the defining themes of the first half was the emergence of an unexpected figure: Alex Padilla. Athletic’s choice in goal for the cup, despite being a back-up in the league, became a crucial reason the contest remained level for so long. Real Sociedad’s superiority in tempo and chance creation did not immediately translate into a lead, largely because Padilla responded when called upon.

The first major opening fell to Pablo Marín after a strong pass from Guedes. Marín’s effort required an intervention from the Athletic goalkeeper, who got enough on the ball to send it away and concede a corner. Not long after, Jon Martín produced a well-directed header that again demanded a reaction save. The ball struck the goalkeeper’s thigh, another moment that underlined how important Padilla was becoming for the home side.

At that stage, the pattern was clear: Real Sociedad were playing with more rhythm and creating the clearer looks, while Athletic were leaning on their goalkeeper to keep the tie balanced.

A late first-half handball appeal fuels frustration

The emotional temperature of the derby rose sharply just before half-time. In the 44th minute, a shot by Caleta-Car struck Laporte’s hands inside the penalty area, prompting immediate protests from Real Sociedad players. The incident was reviewed, but the VAR official, Melero López, ruled it not to be a penalty.

Notably, the referee Sánchez Martínez did not go to the pitch-side monitor to review the action himself. That decision, and the manner in which it was reached, became a flashpoint. Real Sociedad went into the break feeling they had been denied in what they considered a decisive moment, a frustration heightened by the memory of a recent league derby in which they finished with ten men after Brais Méndez was sent off.

Whether it changed the tactical picture or not, it clearly affected the emotional one. The visitors returned after half-time with renewed determination to ensure the tie did not slip into a narrative of missed opportunities and disputed calls.

Second-half pressure: more saves, a post, and Athletic on the ropes

Real Sociedad resumed with the same intent: to take control and, if possible, leave the tie close to settled before the return leg. Again, Padilla stood in their way. The Athletic goalkeeper denied chances involving Mikel Oyarzabal, while Pablo Marín came agonisingly close only to see an effort strike the post with the goal at his mercy.

For Athletic, it was a warning phase. The home side were described as “groggy,” and their coach Ernesto Valverde responded decisively, making four substitutions at once in search of a reaction. Yet the flow did not swing in the way Athletic needed. Real Sociedad’s momentum continued, and the decisive sequence was already forming.

Guedes at the heart of the breakthrough

Guedes became central to the match’s key moments. One of his runs into the area ended with the Portuguese player on the ground, but the referee Sánchez Martínez booked Real Sociedad’s number 11 for simulation. The decision added to the tension, particularly given the earlier penalty appeal.

Rather than fading, Guedes stayed active. Soon after, he struck a shot that drifted just wide, a near miss that hinted the breakthrough was coming. The third time he played a leading role, Real Sociedad finally found the goal their performance had been threatening.

The move began with a pass from Soler—an inventive ball described as something only he saw. Guedes lifted the ball over the onrushing Padilla, and at the crucial moment Beñat Turrientes arrived to finish with conviction, sending the ball into the net.

Turrientes delivers a goal that could prove decisive

Turrientes’ goal did more than put Real Sociedad ahead on the night; it rewarded a performance built on persistence and collective talent. It was also a personal moment for a player whose circumstances have changed dramatically under Matarazzo. Before the coach’s arrival, Turrientes had been closer to leaving San Sebastián due to a lack of minutes. Now, he is producing what was described as his best version, and he provided the clarity and composure to beat Padilla when it mattered most.

In a semi-final where margins can define seasons, the goal was framed as potentially “worth its weight in gold.” It arrived after sustained superiority and after Real Sociedad had already navigated moments of frustration, from the penalty decision to the booking for simulation. The ability to keep playing, and to keep creating, became part of the story.

A performance of maturity in a stadium that rarely yields

San Mamés has long been a venue where visiting teams can be overwhelmed by the setting as much as the opponent. This time, Real Sociedad treated it as a stage for a broader statement. They controlled long phases, created the clearer chances, and showed the kind of maturity often associated with sides that expect to reach finals.

Even with Athletic’s attempts to change the game through substitutions, the visitors remained composed. They resisted when the match demanded calm, and they found the reward their play suggested they deserved. The sense from the performance was that Real Sociedad did not simply survive in Bilbao—they asserted themselves.

What the first leg means heading to Anoeta

The semi-final will be decided in the second leg at Anoeta, in front of Real Sociedad’s supporters. That context matters: the job is not complete, and Athletic remain in the tie. Yet the first leg has shifted the balance of belief.

Real Sociedad leave Bilbao with a firm step taken—competitive, emotional, and potentially decisive. They have already shown they can manage the pressure of a major occasion, and they have a lead built from a goal that reflected their approach: insistence, faith, and teamwork.

The challenge now is to “finish the job” at home. If they can reproduce the control and intensity shown at San Mamés, the path toward La Cartuja will feel closer than it did before this semi-final began.

Key moments at a glance

• Early dominance: Real Sociedad controlled large phases and created the clearest chances.
• Padilla’s interventions: Athletic’s cup goalkeeper made important saves, including efforts from Pablo Marín and Jon Martín.
• 44th-minute controversy: A Caleta-Car shot struck Laporte’s hands in the area; after VAR review it was not given as a penalty, and the referee did not go to the monitor.
• Second-half near misses: Oyarzabal was denied and Marín hit the post as Real Sociedad kept pushing.
• Decisive goal: Soler’s pass and Guedes’ lift over the keeper set up Turrientes to score the winner.

Players who shaped the night

• Beñat Turrientes: Scored the goal that puts Real Sociedad in front, continuing his improved role under Matarazzo.
• Guedes: Involved in several key actions, including the build-up to the goal.
• Alex Padilla: Athletic’s standout performer for long stretches, preventing the scoreline from growing.
• Soler: Provided the imaginative pass that unlocked the decisive sequence.

For Real Sociedad, the night in Bilbao was a reminder that strong performances can travel—and that momentum, once established, can carry a team deep into a cup run. The last word will be spoken at Anoeta, but the first leg at San Mamés has already given the tie a clear direction.