Breaking: Alavés have drawn first blood in a fierce Copa del Rey quarterfinal Basque derby. Real Sociedad trail in a single-elimination tie that is raging with intensity. The stakes are clear. Win tonight, reach the semifinals. Lose, and the dream ends.
The opening half turned electric in a snap. Alavés hit with purpose, pressed with bite, and found the finish that split this derby open. Their bench roared. Their fans answered with a wall of noise. Real Sociedad now face a test of nerve and craft.
The moment that swung the tie
One turnover changed the mood. Alavés swarmed the loose ball, sprang forward, and punished the gap. It was quick, direct, and ruthless. The kind of punch that Basque derbies are built on.
Real Sociedad were caught between lines. Their back line hesitated, their midfield lost shape for a beat. That was all Alavés needed. The lead stands, and the pressure flips to the visitors.
This is how Alavés tilt games. They drive second balls, squeeze space, and strike early when the crowd is hot. They are not flashy. They are hard, honest, and sharp on the break. Tonight, that edge is showing.
This tie is single elimination. If it is level after 90 minutes, we go to extra time, then penalties if needed.
How Alavés are winning the details
Alavés have made this about duels, territory, and tempo. Their shape is compact, the lines tight, and the distances short. Every pass for Real Sociedad is greeted by a shoulder, a nudge, a choice they do not like.
They are also targeting the channels. When Real Sociedad push their full backs, Alavés hit the corners with speed. The wingers work both ways. The striker runs the center backs toward their own goal. It wears on you. It also creates set pieces, the lifeblood of knockout nights.
In midfield, Alavés are switching play with simple passes. No risk, just patience. They wait for a slip, then they go. The goal was born from that mindset. Calm, then sudden. ⚽
What Real Sociedad must do next
Imanol Alguacil has seen this movie before. His team can climb back, but the response must be clear and brave. The ball has to move faster, and the wide threats have to matter.
- Raise the speed of circulation, two touches, no drift.
- Stretch the pitch with width, pin back the Alavés full backs.
- Run midfielders beyond the ball, break the last line with timing.
- Fresh legs early, add a runner or playmaker to change rhythm.
Real Sociedad are at their best when their midfield owns the half-spaces and the wingers take on defenders. They thrive when they press in packs and counterpress even harder. That second action is vital now. Lose it, and Alavés will keep breathing on every clearance.
They also need patience. Chasing can invite mistakes. The cross needs to be from a good angle, not out of hope. Free kicks and corners will come if they keep the pressure clean. A single moment can flip this back.
Discipline is everything now. One rash tackle, one needless second yellow, and the tie can be gone.
What a semifinal would mean
For Alavés, a semifinal would echo through Vitoria-Gasteiz. The club has tasted big nights before, and this run would stir those memories. It would validate a season built on grit and belief. It would also light up a fan base that lives for nights like this, scarves high, voices raw.
For Real Sociedad, a comeback and a semifinal berth would strengthen a project that is built on identity and youth. They know cup glory. They also know the pain of fine margins. Reaching the last four would show the depth and maturity of this group, and set up another shot at silver.
This derby is more than a game. It is a week of pride. It is family tables split down the middle. It is flags draped from balconies, in Euskara and Spanish, in songs and stories. The Copa takes that pride and puts it under a spotlight.
What to watch from here
- The first ten minutes after the break, they will define control.
- The bench moves, especially the first change for each side.
- The resist and release pattern, can Alavés keep running into space.
The tie is alive, and the noise is climbing. Alavés have the lead, and the courage to defend it. Real Sociedad have the ball, and the skill to break through. One more surge could decide it. The semifinal door is open, but only one Basque club will walk through tonight.
