Atletico Madrid – Real Sociedad

The Basques won't lose to the capital club in regulation time of the final.

The Copa del Rey final will probably be played during Atlético Madrid's happiest days in recent seasons. Diego Simeone's team on Wednesday played its sixth match against Barcelona this season and handed the Catalans a second strategic defeat. On the other hand, the Mattress Makers have expended so much energy and emotion to reach the Champions League semifinals that they would have preferred to play the Copa del Rey final at another time. Atlético began the chase for the second-most prestigious national trophy in the Round of 16, where they faced strong resistance from the modest Mallorca. Despite the team's nearly threefold xG advantage, Simeone's side snatched a 3-2 victory. In the Round of 16, Atlético, thanks to Griezmann's goal, beat Deportivo La Coruña (1-0), and in the quarterfinals they defeated a stronger Betis (5-0). The real revelation for Atlético was the semifinal, the first leg of which they won against Barcelona 4-0, and the actual battle in Catalonia ended with a 0-3 defeat for the capital club. Real Sociedad's path to the final was no less arduous. In the Round of 32 and Round of 16, the Basques beat Reus FCR and Eldense, scoring their opponents only in the second halves (2-0 and 2-1 respectively). In the quarterfinals, Real Sociedad narrowly avoided elimination by Osasuna, managing to come back in stoppage time of the second half and beat the opponent in a penalty shootout. In the quarterfinals and semifinals the Basques beat Alavés and Athletic Bilbao (twice) by a one-goal margin in all cases. If the minds and bodies of Atlético Madrid players are still burning after the thrashing of Barcelona, Real Sociedad had the opportunity to prepare calmly for the season's most important match. The Basques played their last match last Saturday, when they allowed Alavés to snatch a 3-3 draw. After the change of head coach at the end of last year, Real Sociedad turned the course of the season and, ahead of the 32nd La Liga round, moved within arm's reach of a European competition spot. Surprisingly, while successfully competing in three competitions, Atlético Madrid have lost five of their last six official matches. Such statistics will sooner or later bring the Mattress Makers to a downfall. Real Sociedad will not lose in regulation time.