Atlético Madrid 3-2 Real Sociedad: Atléti take three points in audition for the Copa del Rey final | OneFootball

Atlético Madrid claimed a frantic 3-2 win against Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Saturday, in a match that could be perceived as a dress rehearsal for next month’s Copa del Rey final.

Los Colchoneros survived a second-leg comeback from Barcelona to book their trip to La Cartuja, while the txuri-urdin saw off local rivals Athletic Club on the other side of the bracket.

Meeting in the Spanish capital on Saturday, an early Alexander Sørloth volley was equalled by a Carlos Soler strike minutes later. A frantic first 10 minutes was followed by a dominant display by the home side.

A flurry of Aléti substitutes before the hour mark changed the game when Antoine Griezmann provided a back-heel assist for González. La Real replied quickly, again, with a Mikel Oyarzabal goal a minute later.

A thumping González header on 80 minutes sealed the three points for Atlético Madrid, condemning Real Sociedad to their second loss under Pellegrino Matarazzo.

As it happened

The home side did not take long to spring into action when a long throw-in from the right-hand side was flicked on by Jose Giménez and met with a first time volley by Alexander Sørloth – who now has six goals against his former side.

Four minutes later, Carlos Soler played a one-two with Luka Sucic. The Spaniard controlled with his right foot into the box and caressed the ball with his left-foot into the Atléti net, for an aesthetically pleasing goal from Real Sociedad.

José Giménez came close to scoring throughout the game – his highlight, though, was grabbing a pigeon and carrying it off the pitch to safety.

Diego Simeone made all five of his substitutions by the hour mark and it paid off. A powerful burst through La Real midfield was picked up by Antoine Griezmann and back-heeled, wonderfully, into Gonzalez’s path and he slotted it in for his first of the match.

‘You’re at your most vulnerable when you’ve just scored’, they say – and the home side made an example of this. From kick-off, Real Sociedad played a long lofted ball up the pitch. After some fortunate bounces, Mikel Oyarzabal struck the ball powerfully past Jan Oblak for 2-2.

For the third, and last time, Atléti took the lead following a sublime Matteo Ruggeri cross that was headed by González past the Real Sociedad goalkeeper, Alex Remiro – a second goal in 30 minutes for the substitute.

Atlético Madrid stay third and Real Sociedad remain eighth in the table. The two teams will face each other again in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday 18 April at La Cartuja, in Seville.