Endrick’s early first-leg goal will give Real Madrid a slim 1-0 advantage going into their Copa del Rey semi-final matchup with Real Sociedad.
After being sent in by a beautiful lofted ball from the returning Jude Bellingham, the Brazilian teenage prodigy took a brilliant first touch and finished coolly low with the outside of his left boot to end an enthralling match between the La Liga rivals at Anoeta on Wednesday night.
As he returned to the starting lineup after a two-match La Liga ban that will also prevent him from playing in Saturday’s trip to Real Betis, England midfielder Bellingham played a significant role for a Madrid squad without top scorer Kylian Mbappe due to a tooth issue.
Federico Valverde and Thibaut Courtois were also benched by Carlo Ancelotti in San Sebastian. Courtois’s deputy, Andriy Lunin, took full most of his goalkeeping opportunity by denying former Madrid sensation Takefusa Kubo early on.
With Lunin on guard once more to block a flick from a corner after Aihen Munoz had also tried his luck in the opening exchanges, Sociedad had a strong start as they sought to build on a strong run of play under Imanol Alguacil that had seen them win five of their previous six games in all competitions.
Madrid was largely unable to get out of their own half despite getting plenty of opportunities, and Bellingham headed a challenging header from a corner over at the near post.
That is, until Bellingham’s incredible vision picked out the 18-year-old, and Endrick scored what would turn out to be the game’s only goal, taking a nice touch off the thigh before finishing comfortably low past Alex Remiro.
Going behind was enthusiastically received by Sociedad, and Lunin saved from Munoz after deflecting a Brais Mendez attempt.
After another assist from Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni headed the resulting corner the wrong side of the goal, and Remiro was at full stretch to push substitute captain Vinicius Jr.’s rolling low finish past the far post.
After several mild penalty appeals from both teams were dismissed, Tchouameni made a crucial last-second save when Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal attempted to finish off a low ball from Ander Barrenetxea’s byline before launching himself high into the bleachers.
Barrenetxea cut off the left wing and forced Lunin to topple his ferocious drive in a thrilling first-half finish, but the action was overshadowed by chants from some home fans, which resulted in a warning message flashing on the screen and the game being temporarily postponed.
Soon after the half, Lunin was called upon once more, save a header from Oyarzabal and a subsequent effort by Kubo. With Remiro beaten, Endrick had the best chance to score a second goal, but he missed the crossbar with a strong drive.
As Vinicius Jr. started to cause Sociedad a lot of trouble, a wave of more penalty claims were rejected.
Lunin ensured that Munoz’s low attempt went behind, while Lucas Vazquez, who was substituted for Raul Asencio at halftime, sprinted in from the right and missed a shot that went high and wide.
Before the vivacious Kubo shot off target, two crucial interventions were made within the Madrid box by Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.
Remiro redirected Bellingham’s low strike around the post after it had bounced severely off Igor Zubeldia after a brilliant flick from Tchouameni put him up. A few minutes later, Remiro touched a Bellingham strike over the crossbar.
Following a dangerous-looking challenge by substitute Ferland Mendy on Kubo, Tchouameni headed wide once more from a Rodrygo corner before Sociedad ended the game ahead after Dani Ceballos hobbled off injured in stoppage time. The home team surrounded the referees after the final whistle.