MADRID —
Real Sociedad beat Celta de Vigo 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the semifinals of the Copa del Rey for the first time since four seasons ago, when they won the competition.
Mikel Oyarzabal and Sheraldo Becker scored for the visitors in this repeat of the match that the two teams played on Saturday, when the Basque club won 1-0 in Vigo.
“It is true that in the league they are fighting to get out of the bottom positions, but I have no doubt that Celta has a great coach and a great squad,” commented Real Sociedad coach, Imanol Alguacil. “That’s why I understand that what we have done has double value, both on Saturday and today.”
The American Luca de la Torre scored this time for the hosts with a low shot inside the area in the 92nd minute. Celtiña, led by Rafa Benítez, was looking to return to the semifinals for the first time since 2017.
The Txuri-urdin team, which defeated its Basque rival Athletic Bilbao in the 2019-20 final, had reached the round of eight in the previous two campaigns, but was unable to advance.
Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a header a few steps from the goal, just two minutes into the match at the Balaídos Stadium.
Becker extended the lead with a header on a counterattack in the 66th. He sneaked behind the midfielders and sent the ball into the net from outside the area, before goalkeeper Iván Villar came out.
La Real is in sixth place in the Spanish League, six points behind Atlético de Madrid, which is fourth and currently has the last ticket to the Champions League. Celta is 16th, two points above the relegation zone.
The victory achieved on Saturday by Real Sociedad against the Galician club ended a streak of four matches without a win by the team.
This Wednesday, Bilbao hosts Barcelona and will try to reach the semifinals for the fourth consecutive year. It will be a duel between the two most successful teams in this competition. The Catalans have 31 titles and the Basques 23.
Girona, surprise leader of the Spanish League, visits Mallorca in another quarterfinal match.
Atlético Madrid, which eliminated defending champion Real Madrid in the round of 16, will host struggling Sevilla, which is just above the relegation zone in La Liga.
