Jagoba restored Real Sociedad’s pride in the Copa del Rey | OneFootball

Before Imanol Alguacil’s 2020 triumph and last-four runs in 2024 and 2025, Jagoba Arrasate first restored Real Sociedad’s Copa pride by reaching the 2014 semi-finals.

Diario Vasco charts the barren years after the 1988 Bernabéu final, with early exits even in big seasons, including Betis in 1998, Zaragoza in 2003 and Córdoba on All Saints’ Day in 2013.

In 2013/14, amid 53 matches, a Lyon play-off and six Champions League group games, plus 38 in La Liga and seven in the cup, Arrasate’s 22-man squad still beat Algeciras 5-1 on aggregate.

They drew 2-2 with Villarreal at Anoeta, then Javi Ros settled the return at El Madrigal. Racing Santander, from Segunda B after ousting Sevilla and Almería, lost 3-1 in San Sebastián, the second leg cancelled by a players’ wage protest.

Barcelona awaited. On 5 February at the Camp Nou, Arrasate deployed three centre-backs and adventurous full-backs, with Zubikarai behind and midfield ballast to free Griezmann and Vela. The plan worked until minute 42, when a Mascherano foul on Vela went unpunished and Iñigo Martínez was sent off, the hosts winning 2-0.

Back in a full Anoeta, Seferovic had a goal wrongly ruled offside with Dani Alves playing him on, and it finished 1-1. Two weeks later La Real beat Barcelona in the league, and the Catalans never reclaimed top spot as Atlético won the title.

Source: Diario Vasco