Two players who scored against Barcelona missed penalties, Atletico Madrid loses the King's Cup to Sociedad

The 2025/26 Spanish King's Cup final between Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad was a tense affair throughout 120 minutes, before being decided by a risky penalty shootout.

Right after the opening whistle, Sociedad shocked by opening the score just 14 seconds later thanks to a goal by Ander Barrenetxea. However, Atletico quickly responded in the 19th minute when Ademola Lookman finished neatly, bringing the match back to a balanced state.

The drama continued to escalate at the end of the first half. In minute 45+1, captain Mikel Oyarzabal successfully executed a penalty, helping Sociedad lead 2-1 before the break.

Moving into the second half, Atletico pressed with full force to attack. After many missed opportunities, the team under coach Diego Simeone also found a valuable equalizer in the 83rd minute. Julián Álvarez unleashed a tricky shot, leveling the score 2-2, sending the match into extra time.

During the 30 minutes of extra time, the two teams exchanged blows but no further goals were scored. The match had to be decided by a penalty shootout.

On the penalty spot, Sociedad showed more composure by winning 4-3, thereby crowning themselves champions. On the Atletico Madrid side, much regret was left as Julián Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth, two players who scored to eliminate Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals, failed to execute their penalty shots.

The bitter defeat caused Atletico to miss out on the title, while Real Sociedad had an emotional coronation after one of the most dramatic finals of the season. For Atletico, this defeat is considered to somewhat affect their mentality as they enter the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal.