Madrid, April 2 (H.S.): Real Madrid secured their place in the final of the Copa del Rey with an exciting 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad on Tuesday, winning the semifinal with an aggregate score of 5-4.

Antonio Rudiger scored the decisive goal with a header in the 115th minute, which means Madrid will now face Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the final.

Real Sociedad, who were trailing 1-0 in the first leg, took the lead with a goal from Ander Barrenetxea, but Real Madrid equalized with a brilliant chip shot from Endrick.

Sociedad gained the lead again with a David Alaba own goal and a deflected shot from Mikel Oyarzabal, but Madrid made a comeback with goals from Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni.

Oyarzabal scored a second goal in stoppage time, bringing the match to extra time, but Sociedad could not take the match to penalties. Ultimately, Rudiger’s header sent Madrid to the final.

Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti included Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo in the starting lineup, resting Kylian Mbappé and giving Endrick a chance.

The 18-year-old Endrick, who scored the only goal in the first leg, looked active in the opening minutes and came close to scoring with a fantastic overhead kick.

Bellingham also attempted to score, but Sociedad took the lead. Barrenetxea scored following a pass from Pablo Marín.

However, Madrid quickly equalized. Vinicius provided an excellent through ball from the left flank, which Endrick finished off with a superb lobbed effort.

Sociedad demanded a penalty at the end of the first half when Takefusa Kubo collided with Vinicius in the box, but the referee dismissed the claim.

In the second half, Ancelotti brought on Mbappé for Endrick, but Sociedad appeared more successful in creating chances.

Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin made a fantastic save against Martin Zubimendi, but in the 72nd minute, Alaba's own goal from Marin's cross gave Sociedad the lead.

Later, Oyarzabal's deflected shot went past Lunin, further strengthening Sociedad's advantage.

But Madrid then mounted a strong comeback. In the 82nd minute, Bellingham scored from Vinicius's pass, and four minutes later, a mistake by goalkeeper Remiro on a header from Tchouameni equalized the score at 4-4.

In the 90+3rd minute, Oyarzabal’s header took the match into extra time, but Sociedad couldn’t hold on to the lead until the final moments.

Ultimately, in the 115th minute, Rudiger's excellent header from Arda Güler's corner secured Madrid a place in the final.

Now, on Wednesday, the second semifinal will be contested between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, with both teams having drawn 4-4 in the first leg.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar