Real Sociedad strikes first at San Mamés with Turrientes goal in tense Copa semi-final

Real Sociedad set the tone in Bilbao

Real Sociedad delivered a statement performance at San Mamés, taking the first step in a Copa del Rey semi-final played under maximum tension. In a stadium renowned for its atmosphere and difficulty, the visitors imposed long stretches of their football, showing personality and ambition from the opening minutes. With the second leg still to come at Anoeta, the tie remains open, but the night in Bilbao offered a clear message: Real Sociedad arrived to compete on the biggest stage and to do it on their terms.

The context only heightened the sense of occasion. The recent memory of a league derby and the lure of a final at La Cartuja sat in the background, adding emotional weight to every duel and decision. Yet Real Sociedad did not appear intimidated by the environment or the magnitude of the moment. Instead, they played with the maturity of a team that believes it belongs in these decisive rounds, controlling phases of the match and creating enough opportunities to feel they could have left with a bigger margin.

Matarazzo’s impact and a team that refuses to lose

Pellegrino Matarazzo’s imprint has been central to the narrative around this run. Real Sociedad, under his guidance, have not tasted defeat in 2026 to date, a streak that has coincided with a visible shift in confidence and competitiveness. The side that not long ago looked in trouble has moved to the edge of a cup final, and the performance at San Mamés reinforced the sense of a group revitalised in both belief and structure.

There was also a symbolic element to the match-winner. Beñat Turrientes, a player who had been short of minutes before Matarazzo’s arrival and had even been linked with a possible exit from Donostia due to his limited role, produced the decisive contribution. In a match where chances were created repeatedly, it was Turrientes who provided the clarity and conviction to finish the move that ultimately separated the teams.

Padilla’s saves keep Athletic alive early on

Real Sociedad’s superiority was apparent in the rhythm of their play and the frequency of their attacks, but the scoreboard stayed level for a long time because Athletic’s goalkeeper, Álex Padilla, stood out as an unexpected obstacle. A backup in league competition but selected by Ernesto Valverde for the Copa, Padilla became the main reason the hosts survived the first waves of pressure.

The visitors carved out clear openings. Pablo Marín had a major opportunity after a strong pass from Guedes, forcing Padilla into an intervention that diverted the ball away and into a corner. Not long after, Jon Martín threatened with a well-directed header that again demanded a reaction from the goalkeeper, the ball striking Padilla’s thigh as he blocked. At that stage, Padilla was effectively Athletic’s lifeline, preventing Real Sociedad’s control and chance creation from turning into a lead.

A disputed handball and rising frustration before half-time

The emotional temperature of the derby rose sharply in the 44th minute. A shot from Caleta-Car struck Laporte’s hands inside the area, prompting immediate protests from Real Sociedad’s players. The incident was reviewed, but Melero López, working on VAR, concluded it should not be a penalty. Referee Sánchez Martínez did not go to the pitch-side monitor to review the action himself.

For Real Sociedad, the decision felt like a pivotal moment, and it shaped the mood heading into the interval. The visitors went into the break with a sense of grievance, believing they had been harmed by a call in a decisive phase of the match. That feeling was sharpened by the proximity of another recent derby in which Real Sociedad had finished with ten men after Brais Méndez was sent off, a reference point that added to the perception of frustration.

Second-half pressure: Padilla again, and the post denies Marín

After the restart, Real Sociedad returned with the same intention: to leave the tie as close to decided as possible before the second leg. Their intensity and forward momentum did not fade, and they continued to generate chances. Once again, however, Padilla stood in the way, and when he was beaten, the woodwork offered Athletic another escape route.

Padilla produced another important intervention to deny Mikel Oyarzabal, and Pablo Marín, with a promising situation in front of him, struck the post. The pattern was clear: Real Sociedad were doing enough to lead, while Athletic were struggling to find a foothold. The home side looked unsteady, and the match appeared to be drifting towards the moment when sustained pressure would finally be rewarded.

Valverde changes four at once, but the dynamic holds

With Athletic under strain, Valverde opted for a dramatic response, introducing four substitutions in one move in search of a shift in momentum. The intention was to spark a reaction and regain control of the contest, but the immediate effect was limited. Real Sociedad continued to push, and the visitors’ attacking sequences kept Athletic pinned back for stretches.

The game also carried moments of confrontation and disputed interpretation. During one Real Sociedad attack, Guedes drove forward and ended up on the ground. Sánchez Martínez booked the Real Sociedad player for simulation. Moments later, Guedes tried again, firing a shot that went narrowly wide. The sense was of a player increasingly involved in the key actions, with the match building towards a decisive episode.

The decisive move: Soler, Guedes, and Turrientes

The breakthrough arrived on the third Guedes-led sequence that followed. The move began with a pass from Soler that stood out for its imagination, a ball that appeared to be seen only by him and Guedes. The Portuguese attacker lifted the ball over the onrushing Padilla, taking the goalkeeper out of the immediate equation. But the move still needed a finishing touch, and it was Turrientes who provided it.

Arriving with determination, Turrientes turned the chance into a goal, pushing the ball into the net with what the match narrative framed as heart as much as technique. After so many opportunities and so much control, the goal felt like a delayed but deserved reward for Real Sociedad’s insistence and collective quality.

A lead built on control, resilience, and conviction

Turrientes’ goal did more than put Real Sociedad ahead on the night; it encapsulated the themes of their performance. They had been the better side in play, tempo and chances, and they found a way to keep their focus despite a refereeing decision that had inflamed their frustrations shortly before half-time. They showed composure when the match demanded it, and they maintained belief until the breakthrough finally came.

San Mamés, so often a daunting venue for visiting teams, became the setting for a clear Real Sociedad assertion. Even with the tie still to be completed, the first leg suggested a team growing in competitive and emotional strength, capable of handling pressure and shaping matches in hostile environments.

What the first leg means for the second at Anoeta

The semi-final will be decided in the return match at Anoeta, where Real Sociedad will have the support of their home crowd. The advantage earned in Bilbao is significant, but it is also narrow enough to keep the contest alive. Still, the performance at San Mamés provides a platform: Real Sociedad have already shown they can dominate phases against Athletic, create high-quality chances, and withstand the moments that test temperament.

From Athletic’s perspective, the first leg underlined both vulnerability and opportunity. Vulnerability, because they were pushed back and relied heavily on Padilla’s interventions and a slice of fortune with the post. Opportunity, because the deficit is limited, and the tie remains within reach if they can find a stronger rhythm and greater attacking presence in the second leg.

Key moments at a glance

• Real Sociedad controlled long stretches and created the clearer chances at San Mamés.
• Álex Padilla, chosen by Valverde for the Copa, made several key saves to keep Athletic level.
• A 44th-minute handball appeal involving Caleta-Car’s shot and Laporte’s hands was reviewed but not given as a penalty; the referee did not go to the monitor.
• After the break, Padilla denied Oyarzabal and Pablo Marín hit the post.
• Valverde made four substitutions at once, but Real Sociedad maintained the upper hand.
• The winning goal came from a Soler pass, a Guedes touch over the goalkeeper, and a Turrientes finish.

Conclusion

Real Sociedad’s victory at San Mamés was shaped by authority in possession, repeated chance creation, and the ability to stay composed through contentious moments. Padilla’s performance delayed the inevitable for Athletic, but the visitors’ pressure finally told, and Turrientes’ goal gave tangible value to a night in which Real Sociedad looked the more complete side. With the second leg at Anoeta still to come, the tie is not finished, yet Real Sociedad have positioned themselves closer to La Cartuja and shown, once again, the competitive edge that has defined their unbeaten start to 2026.