Real Sociedad Beat Mirandes, Advance to 2020 Spanish Copa del Rey Final
Mar 4, 2020
MIRANDA DE EBRO, SPAIN - MARCH 04: Mikel Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad celebrates after scoring a goal during the Copa del Rey semifinal 2nd leg match between Mirandes and Real Sociedad at Estadio Municipal de Anduva on March 04, 2020 in Miranda de Ebro, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Real Sociedad booked their spot in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday, beating Mirandes 1-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.
Mikel Oyarzabal gave the La Liga club the lead from the penalty spot in the first half, and Mirandes barely threatened the Basques after the break.
La Real won the first leg 2-1 at their home ground. Granada and Athletic Bilbao will battle it out for the other ticket to the final on Thursday.
The 2-1 scoreline from the first leg meant this match was evenly balanced going into the return, and La Real could not afford to sit back.
The visitors came out swinging, and Adnan Januzaj nearly headed home after eight minutes, just missing the target.
La Real were the aggressors, led by midfield maestro Martin Odegaard, but Mirandes had plenty of good moments as well. Martin Merquelanz―on loan from the Txuri Urdin―was once again the main danger man, and this effort went very close:
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) March 4, 2020
Willian Jose also went close, testing Limones with a good strike, while Januzaj was heavily involved and could have scored after 32 minutes following a good run from Oyarzabal.
It was the star forward who got his team off the mark shortly before the half-time break from the penalty spot. A Joseba Zaldua cross was handled in the box, and Oyarzabal made no mistake:
Quite a hop, skip and jump penalty from the generally pretty reserved Oyarzabal...
Januzaj crashed a shot off the cross bar early in the second half, signaling even more attacking intentions from the Txuri Urdin.
A Merquelanz free-kick was nearly turned home by Jon Guridi, and Igor Zubeldia's deflected shot harmlessly bounced into the arms of Limones.
Copa del Rey top scorer Alexander Isak came on for the final 25 minutes to help out with Mirandes' push for a comeback. Merquelanz found the head of Matheus, but Alex Remiro made a great save at his back post.
The Txuri Urdin did a great job killing the pace of the contest as the final whistle drew closer, although Remiro had to make a strong save to deny Mario Barco. Matheus fired a shot wide, and Isak had a late goal called back for offside.
What's Next?
Barcelona host La Real on Sunday in La Liga. Mirandes visit Alcorcon in the second division the same day.
Real Sociedad vs. Mirandes: 2020 Copa del Rey Leg 1 Live Stream, Odds, More
Feb 11, 2020
Real Sociedad's Martin Odegaard, center, celebrates with teammates Mikel Merino and Aritz Elustondo, right, after a goal of their team during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Alaves at Reale Arena stadium, in San Sebastian, northern Spain, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Mirandes will attempt to further their 2020 Copa del Rey giantkilling exploits in Thursday's semi-final first leg at Real Sociedad.
The Segunda Division club have sliced through La Liga opponents in the cup this term, eliminating Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Villarreal.
Sociedad, meanwhile, claimed a shock 4-3 quarter-final victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The semi-final second leg will be played at the Estadio Municipal de Anduva on March 4.
Mirandes arrive in San Sebastian as outsiders, but that won't deter the visitors during their latest Copa adventure.
The Reds sit 10th in the Segunda Division after a moderate league campaign but will be hoping to force their way into the play-offs for a chance to join the Spanish top flight.
However, their minds will be focused on a Sociedad outfit that slammed four goals past Madrid on their own turf in the Spanish capital.
And Imanol Alguacil's team will now be considering the prospect of an all-Basque final against Athletic Bilbao.
MIRANDA DE EBRO, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 05: Players of CD Mirandes poses on team's line up prior to the Copa del Rey Quarter Final match between CD Mirandes and Villarreal CF at Estadio de Anduva on February 05, 2020 in Miranda de Ebro, Spain. (Photo by Quality
How La Real handle being overwhelming favourites could dictate who emerges victorious from this tie, and Mirandes have nothing to lose.
Alfredo Relano of AS noted Mirandes are "the thunderclap that roars on" after their impressive 4-2 quarter-final win over Villarreal, with the La Liga side twice fighting back to make it 2-2 before the Reds completed the win in the second half.
Relano wrote: "These thunderclaps Mirandes produce like nobody else give the kind of flavour to the cup that La Liga is lacking, with its slow and steady development where it seems as if everything has a solution."
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 06: Marcelo Vieira of Real Madrid battle for the ball Martin Odegaard of Real Sociedad during the Spanish King Cup match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad on February 06, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/
Sociedad were the outsiders at the Bernabeu against a Madrid team that had been in convincing form. The La Liga leaders were expected to progress, but found themselves 3-0 down after 56 minutes.
Los Blancos fought back to level the tie at 3-3, but Mikel Merino's effort in the fifth minute of injury time made sure Sociedad claimed a famous victory.
Martin Odegaard has developed as an increasingly important figure for Sociedad, and the Madrid loanee has two Copa goals in as many appearances this season.
The 21-year-old could be the player who fires La Real to the final and, in the process, proves he is worthy of a first-team spot at the Bernabeu next term.
