London, 2 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Antonio Rüdiger headed an extra-time winner as Real Madrid scraped into the Copa del Rey final following an extraordinary semi-final second leg against Real Sociedad.

The substitute nodded home Arda Güler's corner in the 115th minute to secure a 5-4 aggregate success for Carlo Ancelotti's men after a chaotic 4-4 draw at Santiago Bernabeu.

A remarkable evening in the Spanish capital featured five goals between the 72nd minute and the end of normal time.

The hosts, who led 1-0 from the first leg, were on the cusp of elimination when a David Alaba own goal and Mikel Oyarzabal's deflected strike put Sociedad 3-1 up on the night after Endrick cancelled out Ander Barrenetxea's early opener.

Quick-fire finishes from Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni shifted the momentum back in Madrid's favour, only for Oyarzabal to force extra-time by heading home in added time.

But, with a penalty shoot-out looming, Rudiger made the decisive contribution to send his side through to a showdown with either Atletico Madrid or Barcelona on Saturday, April 27.

Atletico and Barca are level at 4-4 ahead of the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.

Kylian Mbappe began on the bench as part of six changes to the Madrid team which started Saturday's 3-2 LaLiga victory over Leganes.

Endrick, who scored the only goal in the first leg on February 26, threatened with an acrobatic effort before the visitors levelled the tie in the 16th minute.

After a searching pass forward was flicked on by the head of Pablo Marin, Barrenetxea drove into the box from the left wing to finish through the legs of home goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Bellingham dragged wide before the hosts hit back with half an hour played.

Vinicius Junior's stunning pass with the outside of his right foot from wide on the left allowed the onrushing Endrick to take a touch and scoop a delightful finish over Alex Remiro.

Madrid, who introduced top scorer Mbappe in the 66th minute, looked fairly comfortable before being punished as Sociedad upped the tempo to kickstart a helter-skelter ending.

The home side were given a warning when Lunin produced a fine save to deny Martin Zubimendi from a corner, with Oyarzabal blazing the rebound over the crossbar.

And just two minutes later, Sociedad were back level.

Marin again caused problems, working space on the right before his cut back hit the heel of Alaba and flew between the legs of Lunin.

Sociedad led the tie for the first time with 10 minutes remaining when Oyarzabal drilled goalwards and the ball flicked off Alaba to find the net via the left post.

Yet the advantage did not last long as two goals in five minutes changed the course of a captivating contest.

Bellingham dispatched a side-foot volley into the net following superb work from Vinicius before Tchouameni headed Rodrygo's corner beyond the flapping Remiro.

Sociedad were given seven minutes of added time to force extra-time but required only three.

Substitute Sergio Gomez delivered an inviting free-kick from the right and Oyarzabal escaped his marker to nod home.

Remiro superbly denied Bellingham a late, headed winner to ensure an additional period, which was far more subdued.

The tie looked destined to be settled from 12 yards before Rüdiger dramatically rose to power in Güler's set-piece delivery.

Photo: EPA