Dominant Beyond the Scoreline: Atlético's Bench Decides the Cup Final Dress Rehearsal – González Brace in a 3-2 Win

An early warning shot — Sørloth strikes fast, Soler hits back

With the Copa del Rey final just six weeks away, these two sides met at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in a dress rehearsal of sorts. In front of 60,788 spectators, Atlético Madrid needed only five minutes to set the match in motion.

The move began with a long throw from Giuliano Simeone. José María Giménez flicked the ball on with a header inside the box, and Alexander Sørloth, backing into marker J. Martín, got there first with his right foot and lashed it into the roof of the net. Ten months after scoring the fastest hat-trick in La Liga history against this same opponent, the Norwegian had struck again after just 4 minutes and 30 seconds.

But Real Sociedad responded quickly. In the ninth minute, Luka Sučić drove forward and found Carlos Soler just outside the area, and Soler whipped a fierce left-footed shot into the top-left corner. It was a finish of real quality, and one that immediately punctured Atlético's fast start.

Even after the score returned to 1-1, the game's overall shape tilted in Atlético's favor. Giménez, Sørloth, and Ademola Lookman all had efforts that failed to hit the target. On 20 minutes, Dávid Hancko picked up his first yellow card of the season for a foul on Sučić — his first booking after 38 appearances and 3,208 minutes (football-espana). Atlético's high press disrupted La Real's usually composed buildup throughout the first half, and the BBC's full-time match stats would ultimately underline that dominance: touches in the opposition box finished 56 to 10 in Atlético's favor.

A dark cloud arrived just before the break. In stoppage time, Rodrigo Mendoza injured his right ankle in a ground duel with Ander Barrenetxea. The young midfielder was left in visible pain on the pitch and had to come off at halftime. Marca reported the injury could be serious, so the length of his absence will depend on further tests.

Simeone's bench management — five substitutions between halftime and the 61st minute changed the game

After the break, Diego Simeone raised the tempo immediately. At halftime, Marcos Llorente replaced Mendoza. On 53 minutes, Giuliano Simeone and Lookman both came off for Julián Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann. Then, on 54 minutes, Thiago Almada made way for Nicolás González. Finally, in the 61st minute, Koke was replaced by Johnny Cardoso. Simeone used all five substitutions between halftime and the 61st minute, completely reshaping the side on the pitch.

The changes noticeably accelerated Atlético's attack. Griezmann increased the tempo in transition with his ball-carrying, while in tighter areas he escaped pressure and kept the ball moving. Cardoso gave Atlético a stronger defensive presence than Koke and helped recover second balls, while Llorente advanced possession effectively from the right side of midfield. The high press that had already functioned well in the first half grew even sharper with fresher legs, and Sociedad found it harder and harder to make progress when they had the ball.

The match stats reflected a level of control that the scoreline alone does not fully capture. Atlético finished with 2.29 xG to Sociedad's 0.41 (FotMob), as well as a 24-7 advantage in total shots, 9-3 in shots on target, 7-0 in big chances, and 8-1 in corners (ESPN / FotMob). Sociedad's two goals came from an xG total of just 0.41, both produced by exceptional finishing. There can be little doubt that Atlético controlled the match as a whole. For a team that has not always managed to overwhelm mid-table or lower opposition on the balance of play this season, this was one of Atlético's most convincing performances in both score and substance.

In the 67th minute, that superiority finally translated into a lead again. N. González drove through the middle and fed Griezmann, who returned the ball with a right-footed backheel. N. González then finished calmly with his left foot, sending Remiro the wrong way to make it 2-1. It was Griezmann's first league assist of the season.

Yet Sociedad bit back immediately once more. Roughly 90 seconds later, in the 68th minute, substitute Mikel Oyarzabal rifled a shot into the top corner from outside the penalty area. Oblak got his right hand to it, but could not keep it out. It was the second time a side that produced just 0.41 xG had found a way level through sheer finishing quality.

But Atlético's third lead of the night would stand. In the 81st minute, following a corner, Hancko's low shot was saved by Remiro. Matteo Ruggeri collected the loose ball and delivered a pinpoint cross, and N. González rose highest to thunder in a header. The Argentine, who had only just scored for the first time in nearly six months, had struck again just 14 minutes later — this time for the winner.

Griezmann as the driving force — on his 484th appearance

There was another major talking point before kickoff. Atlético sporting director Mateu Alemany told Movistar that Griezmann would be staying at the club.

"I stand by what I said, he has a contract with us, he will continue with us." — Mateu Alemany (Movistar / AFP)

Griezmann had been strongly linked with a move to Orlando City in MLS, but Alemany also said, "He has a contract for this season and two more years. I don't think there is any big news" (nhregister). With the March 26 primary transfer window deadline approaching, speculation over a move before the end of the season has receded significantly. As noted in the prematch report, the Copa del Rey final and Atlético's wider end-of-season run, including the Champions League, may yet form part of the context around his future. After the game, Simeone was asked about Alemany's comments and replied:

"These things are better when the player speaks directly and explains or says what he really means. We are excited and want the best for him as a family and as a person. I love him very much, and he will decide when he has something to say." — Diego Simeone (postmatch press conference / Into the Calderón)

Griezmann entered in the 53rd minute for Lookman. It was his 484th appearance for Atlético, moving him clear of Tomás Reñones into sole possession of fourth place on the club's all-time list (Atlético official website).

From the moment he came on, the game's momentum increasingly revolved around him. In transition, he carried the ball with speed and threatened the back line; in crowded central spaces, he broke pressure with one-touch combinations and accelerated circulation. At 34, his ability to act as a lubricant for both Atlético's attack and pressing game remains undimmed, something reflected in his 7.5 from Into the Calderón and 7.4 from FotMob.

His backheel assist on 67 minutes was the defining Griezmann moment of the night. Receiving the ball from N. González, he chose not to turn, instead flicking it back with the heel of his right foot. It was a play built on imagination, timing, and trust in his teammate's run. Simeone said afterward:

"Griezmann's backheel is wonderful and gave us the key to making a difference. Griezmann is the difference maker, very important for us." — Diego Simeone (postmatch press conference / Into the Calderón)

Against his former club, on his 484th Atlético appearance, Griezmann delivered the perfect rehearsal for the Copa final. The story of Atlético's all-time leading scorer is not over yet.

Sørloth and N. González — where the scorers stand now

Sørloth's early opener was only the opening chapter of his influence on the game. He led Atlético with seven shots, 0.78 xG, and 11 touches in the box (FotMob). But the numbers do not tell the whole story. He spent the entire match leading the press, carefully closing passing lanes and setting the tone for Atlético's high-pressure game. In a match where the team's pressing structure functioned coherently from the start, the Norwegian's defensive commitment fed directly into the collective intensity.

"I repeat myself when I talk about Alex. In this form, he's involved, working defensively, holding up balls with his back to goal, and being decisive in the part he likes, which is scoring goals. He's different from Lookman, Julián and Griezmann, and we need him a lot, especially in games like today's." — Diego Simeone (postmatch press conference / Into the Calderón)

That made it 10 league goals and 16 in all competitions for the season. Since the start of 2026, Sørloth has scored 11 goals in 17 appearances, the second-best return among players in Europe's top five leagues behind only Harry Kane's 15 (FotMob).

For N. González, meanwhile, this was the end of a long tunnel. It was his first goal in roughly six months, after an injury suffered in December. Introduced in the 54th minute for Almada, he contributed defensively as the right wing-back in a back five while continuing to appear in dangerous areas around Sociedad's penalty box.

His first major chance came from close range after Alvarez set him up, but he blazed over. Minutes later, he made amends by driving through the middle, continuing his run, and calmly finishing after Griezmann's backheel return. His ability to recover immediately from the earlier miss — and do so through direct personal initiative — was part of what also led to his powerful headed winner in the 81st minute.

"It had been a while since I'd scored so it's good I could do it today in this stadium with these fans. I'm very happy, and I'll go home happy because of the team's display too — we're showing in every game what we want and what we're capable of." — Nicolás González (Movistar / AFP)

N. González, who joined on loan from Juventus, is on a deal that includes an obligation-to-buy clause tied to league appearance thresholds (OneFootball / CalcioMercato), meaning every additional outing brings a permanent move to Atlético closer to reality. He finished with a 9.0 from FotMob and an 8.5 from Into the Calderón. A clear man of the match.

At the edge of the pitch, and on it

There was also an unusual moment in the first half when Koke's corner struck a pigeon on the pitch and briefly stopped play. Giménez gently picked the bird up and carried it off the field, a moment that spread widely on social media, but his real work on the night, of course, came in defense.

He finished with eight clearances, six aerial duels won, and 15 passes into the final third. Along with his flick-on assist for the opener, it was a performance that underlined his importance at both ends of the pitch. As Into the Calderón noted, Atlético have now won eight of the 11 league matches Giménez has started — a reminder of how directly his presence is tied to the side's stability.

That stability is threatened by Mendoza's injury. With Pablo Barrios already sidelined by a muscular problem, Mendoza's expected absence is another blow to Atlético's midfield. He is not expected to be available for the Champions League match against Tottenham, and the concern is now whether he can return in time for the Copa del Rey final. Simeone only said: "Let's hope it's as minor as possible. Tomorrow they'll give us an update after the doctors have taken X-rays."

Postmatch reaction

"Atlético played the game we thought we had to play, I'm very happy with the work the group put in. They scored two great goals, but we pressed them in their half, took time off the clock so they couldn't play, and created a lot of chances, more than we scored." — Diego Simeone (postmatch press conference / Into the Calderón)

"I'm very happy for Nico. He's been trying to recover for a long time. He had a very good impact since he arrived, as if he had been with the team all his life. In December, he got injured and since then he couldn't find what he wanted. Hopefully he'll continue like this, because we need everything he has." — Diego Simeone (Into the Calderón)

"I don't feel good, because we hate to lose and the performance was not our best. There's six weeks with different players on the pitch... things will be different." — Pellegrino Matarazzo (AFP)

When asked whether the match could be compared to the Copa final, Simeone shut the discussion down with a blunt: "I don't compare this to the final." Fair enough. Both sides rotated heavily, and the 90 minutes — or possibly 120 — awaiting them at La Cartuja in six weeks are likely to look very different from this one. Matarazzo's line that "things will be different" reflected both frustration at the defeat and an eye on what lies ahead.

Alvarez and Llorente — the contributions that did not show up in the numbers

Julián Alvarez did not record a goal or assist, but that does not mean he failed to contribute. He created at least one excellent chance for N. González from close range — even if the finish flew over — and had other moments that came close to becoming assists. He carried the ball well, kept possession under pressure, and helped Atlético circulate in tight spaces. His 6.7 FotMob rating reflects a solid shift, even if the final numbers never arrived.

Even so, as Into the Calderón put it, Alvarez still "just isn't comfortable when Sørloth is in front of him" (ItC 3.5). There is still an issue in the chemistry of that front pairing. Sørloth's hold-up play and Alvarez's movement between the lines do not yet connect organically often enough, and how Simeone resolves that relationship before the Copa final remains worth watching. For Alvarez's confidence, some kind of tangible return would have helped on a night like this — but his actual performance level was not poor.

Marcos Llorente came on for Mendoza at halftime and slotted into midfield. On 63 minutes, he played a decisive through ball for Sørloth, only for the Norwegian to fire over. Then came the 81st-minute winner: the move began when Llorente's deflected ball dropped into the box, allowing Ruggeri to cross for N. González's header (Into the Calderón).

From this writer's perspective, Llorente offers more value in central midfield than at right-back. His ability to strike cleanly from distance, thread passes in behind, and provide stability in midfield when Barrios or Mendoza are unavailable all stand out. Into the Calderón gave him a modest 6, but he was clearly involved in the win in ways the numbers alone do not fully capture.

After Matchday 27 — the table and the road ahead

With this win, Atlético stayed third on 54 points, opening a three-point gap over fourth-placed Villarreal on 51. They remain 13 points behind leaders Barcelona (67) and nine behind second-placed Real Madrid (63). A title challenge now looks highly unlikely, and the focus is shifting increasingly toward securing Champions League qualification and pursuing silverware in the cups.

Three days later, on Tuesday March 10, Atlético host Tottenham Hotspur at the Metropolitano in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie. It will also be a reunion with Conor Gallagher, who left Atlético for Spurs in January. With Mendoza now joining Barrios on the sidelines, Atlético's midfield setup becomes a major question, and a Koke-Cardoso pairing — or keeping Llorente in midfield — may be among Simeone's options.

Sociedad remain eighth on 35 points. As Matarazzo said, "things will be different," and there are still many variables before the Copa final in six weeks — from Takefusa Kubo's recovery timeline to Oyarzabal's condition. They lost here, but the quality shown by Soler and Oyarzabal in front of goal was enough to suggest they can still pose a major threat in Seville.

Simeone said he would not compare this match to the final. That is understandable. Still, Atlético's pressing structure, the depth of the bench, and the way they found a way to win all left behind a real sense of encouragement ahead of April 18 at La Cartuja.

Player ratings

Starting XI

Substitutes

※ItC ratings are from Into the Calderón, FotMob ratings are from FotMob. ★ indicates FotMob's man of the match. The "xx' (for player)" notation at the start of substitute comments indicates the substitution minute and the player replaced.