Confirmation that the cup final everyone has been waiting for will take place between Spain’s big two after Barcelona drew 1-1 at Real Sociedad in the second semi-final. A packed crowd turned up at the Anoeta stadium hoping for their team to overturn the 2-0 scoreline from the first leg, but their dreams were shattered when Messi ran through from midfield to score a vital away goal midway through the first half. That meant that the Basque side needed to score four, but although Carlos Vela hit the bar after the interval, the best they could manage was a late equalizer from Griezmann with three minutes to go. Barcelona and Real Madrid meet again in another final, although the venue for that has yet to be decided. (12.02.14)
Real Madrid cruised in to this year’s cup final with a 5-0 aggregate win over city neighbours Atlético Madrid on Tuesday evening. Already three goals up from the first leg, the tie was over as a contest when Ronaldo converted two penalties in the first fifteen minutes to make it 0-2 on the night. Casillas pulled off the save of the tournament from Sosa near the end though to keep up his unbeaten record in the competition (eight games and counting), the first time ever that a side has reached a final without letting in a single goal. Madrid’s opponents on 19th April will be either Barcelona or Real Sociedad, the Catalans the favourites after winning the first leg 2-0. (11.02.14)