Del

Real win the final of Spain’s premier annual knockout football competition with a dramatic penalty shootout in Seville.

Real Sociedad beat Atletico Madrid 4-3 on ⁠penalties to win the Copa ⁠del Rey on Saturday following a 2-2 draw after extra time, with goalkeeper Unai Marrero saving two spot kicks in the shootout to help his side win the trophy for the fourth time.

Sociedad last won the Cup in 2021, when the ⁠delayed 2020 final was also played at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville, but there were no supporters present due to the COVID pandemic.

This time, the Basque side’s fans were behind the goal to witness Marrero save Atletico’s first two penalties from Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez.

Atletico keeper Juan Musso then ⁠stopped Orri Oskarsson’s kick, but Pablo Marin kept his nerve to net the winning penalty.

“I tried to clear my mind. Calm and serene,” Marin told RTVE. “Real is my life. I’ve lived here since I was a child. This is the greatest thing I could ever dream of – winning a title with the team of my life.”

The last time the two sides met in the final was 1987, when it also finished 2-2 with Sociedad coming out on top on penalties, ‌and they repeated the job to deny Atletico, who were looking for their first Copa del Rey win since 2013.

Ander Barrenetxea had given Sociedad the lead after 14 seconds, but Ademola Lookman levelled in the 19th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal then put the Basque side back in front with a penalty on the stroke of halftime.

Alvarez drew Atletico level, with seven minutes remaining, to force the extra period in a dramatic final.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico were fresh from reaching the Champions League semifinals, but Sociedad, managed by American Pellegrino Matarazzo, triumphed despite twice losing the lead.

Fast start

Sociedad stunned Atletico from the start. After a punt downfield from Marrero, Goncalo Guedes crossed into the box, and Barrenetxea rose above his marker to send a ⁠looping header beyond Musso.

Atletico levelled with Lookman collecting a pass from Antoine Griezmann and sending a precise low strike ⁠through the legs of a defender and into the far bottom corner.

Some Sociedad fans were celebrating, as they thought their side had retaken the lead when Guedes’s deflected shot flew into the side netting, but when Musso later fouled Guedes, captain Oyarzabal converted the penalty in first-half added time.

“I’ve never walked on water, but it must feel something like this,” said ⁠Oyarzabal, who scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot when his side won their last Copa.

Late drama

Sociedad looked like hanging on until Alvarez struck an unstoppable shot from just inside the area, letting Thiago ⁠Almada’s pass through his legs before turning to send the ball into the top corner.

In the ⁠opening period of extra time, Musso pulled off a double-save from Luka Sucic and Oskarsson, with Alvarez hitting the upright at the other end, as both sides created chances before running out of steam, and penalties beckoned.

Marrero danced across his line as the Atletico players lined up their penalties, and his mind games paid off.

“I knew that if it went to penalties, I had ‌a lot of confidence in myself,” he said.

“The team and the fans did, too. I still can’t believe it.”

Matarazzo has worked a remarkable turnaround at Sociedad since taking over in December, with the club hovering above the relegation zone but now seventh in the standings and, even more importantly, with ‌a ‌trophy to show for their work.

Simeone’s Atletico have one final chance of silverware, with a last-four meeting against Arsenal in the Champions League.

“We have a beautiful challenge ahead of us. We want the Champions League, and we’ll do everything possible to win it,” Atletico captain Koke said. “But tonight is a sad night.”

A lesser-known Spanish resort is shaping up to be one of the more affordable escapes, with £3 pints and £15 flights, combined with its allure of reliable sunshine and dramatic landscapes

A beautiful Spanish region that enjoys a tropical climate is ‘cheaper than Costa del Sol’ with £3 pints and £15 flights, just three hours from the UK.

Costa del Sol is a popular tourist destination, with the city of Marbella attracting thousands of holidaymakers each year, yet it’s not always the cheapest. While there are more affordable areas to visit in Costa del Sol, there’s another beautiful resort in Spain while worth exploring, and it could save you almost £300.

Known as the ‘desert coast’, Costa de Almería offers almost year-round sunshine and is one of the driest climates on the continent, so you’ll rarely need to worry about the weather. With stunning volcanic beaches, azure waters and desert landscapes, it’s a haven for travellers seeking a quieter escape from the tourist crowds.

READ MORE: Stunning remote island where you can live for free if hired for one jobREAD MORE: Simon Calder shares ‘absolutely magical’ seaside town perfect for pensioners

Often overlooked by Brits, Costa de Almería has been hailed by the experts at First Choice as “significantly cheaper than Spain’s main holiday hotspots”. First Choice found that a seven-night stay at the four-star Best Oasis Tropical hotel in Almería during early May costs £281 per person, including flights – that’s around £290 cheaper per couple than a similar break in the Costa del Sol.

The travel experts also found that a beer could set you back just £3 (€3.50) in Almería, compared to the holiday hotspots of Marbella, which could cost as much as £5.19 (€6) per beer.

They also found that a three-course meal for two in Almería would typically cost between £25 (€30) and £30 (€35). This is in stark contrast to the same meal in Marbella, which could range from £51 (€60) to £86 (€100), saving around £61 (€70) per meal in Almería, and a total of £427 (€493) during a seven-night stay.

If that wasn’t enough to tempt you, Costa de Almería welcomes more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and only sees around 26 days of rainfall a year. It also receives 93 per cent less rain in May than the Costa del Sol, averaging just 1mm compared to 15mm.

Thanks to its location near the Tabernas Desert, the experts at First Choice say the region enjoys a warmer climate and sun-soaked rays “weeks before neighbouring areas.” Alongside its tropical climate and cost-cutting benefits, Almería offers plenty to explore, including diverse landscapes and golden-sand beaches.

The protected Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is well worth a visit, with its volcanic cliffs, hidden coves and some of the most picturesque Spanish beaches. There’s also the stunning Tabernas Desert to explore on a guided day tour, as well as the charming whitewashed hilltop village of Mojácar.

Some may recognise Mojácar, which was famously used as the backdrop for major Hollywood movies, including Indiana Jones, as well as the hit TV series Game of Thrones. For film buffs, there’s the opportunity to visit the preserved Wild West film set of MiniHollywood Oasys, with shows and attractions, to feel as though you’ve stepped directly into Indiana Jones.

As a lesser-known destination compared to the Costa del Sol, there are few high-rise hotels towering over the beach, and quieter beaches, so you’ll often be able to find the perfect sun-soaked spot. What’s more, flights from London Stansted to Almería start from as little as £15 one-way, according to Sky Scanner.

Kevin Nelson, Managing Director at First Choice, said: “Costa Almería quietly delivers some of the most reliable spring sunshine in mainland Europe, yet it hasn’t caught up in price. That gap between weather and cost is what makes it stand out”

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com