Ademola Lookman Scores, But Atletico Madrid Suffer Heartbreak in Copa del Rey Final Penalty Shootout Loss
Seville, Spain – April 18, 2026 – Atletico Madrid's quest for Copa del Rey glory ended in dramatic fashion as they were defeated by Real Sociedad in a tense penalty shootout following a thrilling 2-2 draw. Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman found the back of the net for Atletico, marking a significant individual achievement, but it wasn't enough to secure the trophy.
Real Sociedad started the match with blistering pace, scoring within the first minute through Ander Barrenetxea [14]. However, Lookman responded in the 18th minute, calmly slotting home from inside the box to level the score for Atletico Madrid [5, 11]. This goal made Lookman the second Nigerian player to score in a Copa del Rey final, following in the footsteps of Finidi George [11].
Mikel Oyarzabal restored Real Sociedad's lead from the penalty spot shortly before halftime, sending the Basque side into the break with a 2-1 advantage [5, 11]. In the second half, Atletico Madrid fought back, with Julian Alvarez netting a late equalizer in the 83rd minute, forcing the match into extra time [5, 11].
With neither team able to find a winner after 120 minutes, the fate of the Copa del Rey was decided by a penalty shootout. Real Sociedad ultimately triumphed 4-3, with Atletico Madrid's Alexander Sørloth and Julián Álvarez missing their spot-kicks [5].
Despite the collective disappointment, Lookman's performance was a bright spot for Atletico Madrid. His goal in the final added to his tally and highlighted his impact since his move from Atalanta [12]. Following the match, Lookman pledged to keep fighting and expressed his commitment to Atletico Madrid in an emotional message to the fans [7].
The Copa del Rey final, held at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, was the 124th edition of the prestigious tournament [1, 2, 9]. This victory marks Real Sociedad's third Copa del Rey title [1, 14]. For Atletico Madrid, the defeat extends their Copa del Rey drought, with their last triumph occurring in 2013 [10]. Head coach Diego Simeone acknowledged his team's effort but rued missed chances in regular time as the deciding factor [13].
Real Sociedad started the match with blistering pace, scoring within the first minute through Ander Barrenetxea [14]. However, Lookman responded in the 18th minute, calmly slotting home from inside the box to level the score for Atletico Madrid [5, 11]. This goal made Lookman the second Nigerian player to score in a Copa del Rey final, following in the footsteps of Finidi George [11].
Mikel Oyarzabal restored Real Sociedad's lead from the penalty spot shortly before halftime, sending the Basque side into the break with a 2-1 advantage [5, 11]. In the second half, Atletico Madrid fought back, with Julian Alvarez netting a late equalizer in the 83rd minute, forcing the match into extra time [5, 11].
With neither team able to find a winner after 120 minutes, the fate of the Copa del Rey was decided by a penalty shootout. Real Sociedad ultimately triumphed 4-3, with Atletico Madrid's Alexander Sørloth and Julián Álvarez missing their spot-kicks [5].
Despite the collective disappointment, Lookman's performance was a bright spot for Atletico Madrid. His goal in the final added to his tally and highlighted his impact since his move from Atalanta [12]. Following the match, Lookman pledged to keep fighting and expressed his commitment to Atletico Madrid in an emotional message to the fans [7].
The Copa del Rey final, held at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, was the 124th edition of the prestigious tournament [1, 2, 9]. This victory marks Real Sociedad's third Copa del Rey title [1, 14]. For Atletico Madrid, the defeat extends their Copa del Rey drought, with their last triumph occurring in 2013 [10]. Head coach Diego Simeone acknowledged his team's effort but rued missed chances in regular time as the deciding factor [13].
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