Both the atmosphere and tension were electric at the Metropolitano as Atletico Madrid clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory over Real Sociedad—a match that kept fans on the edge and held wider implications for the Copa del Rey final to come. Nico Gonzalez emerged as the unlikely hero, stepping off the bench and writing his name into Atleti lore with a dramatic late brace that stole headlines.
Early fireworks and a tale of long throws
The contest barely had a chance to settle before it burst into life. In just the fifth minute, a classic Atleti set-piece routine paid dividends. Giuliano Simeone, a rising star and son of manager Diego Simeone, hurled a monstrous long throw into the Real Sociedad box. Jose Maria Gimenez’s glancing flick appeared perfectly weighted, and Alexander Sorloth was on hand to finish, giving Atleti an early edge. But any comfort was swiftly erased. Just four minutes later, Carlos Soler pounced at the near post for La Real, lashing the ball past Jan Oblak with a finish that screamed of determination and quick thinking.
Curiously, the Premier League’s long-throw tactics were on full display in LaLiga, with Giuliano Simeone repeatedly causing panic down the right. Atleti almost doubled their tally when Sorloth spun smartly from another dangerous throw, his effort fizzing just wide, underlining the effectiveness of this renewed approach.
Antoine Griezmann’s genius and Nico Gonzalez’s game-changing brilliance
The second half saw both teams wrestle for supremacy, searching for a moment of inspiration. That spark came in the 67th minute, as Antoine Griezmann’s audacious backheel split the defense, teeing up Nico Gonzalez. With calm authority, Gonzalez curled a sumptuous strike past Alex Remiro to nudge Atleti in front once again.
Yet, the contest’s symmetry persisted. Real Sociedad replied almost immediately—just 93 seconds later, in fact—when Mikel Oyarzabal arrowed a powerful shot from the edge of the area that squeezed past Oblak. Fans barely had time to digest the latest twist before the pendulum swung again.
But Gonzalez wasn’t finished. As the contest entered its final stages, the midfielder rose above the pack to meet Matteo Ruggeri’s perfect cross, powering home a header in the 81st minute. The Metropolitano erupted, and this time, there would be no swift Sociedad answer.
By the numbers: Atleti’s attack fires on all cylinders
Digging into the stats, it’s clear Atleti were deserved winners. They racked up a massive 24 shots, creating 2.29 expected goals (xG)—a measure of quality chances—compared to Sociedad’s seven shots and 0.41 xG. This aggression and tactical creativity under Simeone showed a team with both hunger and depth.
Let’s spotlight some standout figures:
- Alexander Sorloth continued his impressive scoring run, netting his 11th goal in just 17 appearances across all competitions in 2026.
- Only Harry Kane has more (15 goals) in the top five European leagues this year.
- Sorloth also led all players with:
- 7 shots
- 0.78 xG
- 11 touches in Sociedad’s box
With Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad due to meet again in next month’s Copa del Rey final, this pulsating league win carries psychological weight. Both sides were eager to avoid handing over any mental advantage, but it’s hard to argue that Atleti’s late heroics won’t linger in the minds of both squads.