Lookman continued his fine run of form, finding the net for the second match in a row with a composed finish in the 18th minute. His goal cancelled out an early strike from Ander Barrenetxea, who had scored just 14 seconds into the game.

Real Sociedad restored their lead before halftime when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty after Juan Musso fouled Goncalo Guedes inside the box, putting them 2-1 ahead at the break.

Simeone decided to take off Lookman shortly after the hour mark, a move that raised eyebrows as Atlético struggled to create clear opportunities immediately after. However, their efforts eventually paid off when Julián Álvarez scored a brilliant equaliser in the 83rd minute to send the match into extra time.

After 120 minutes without a winner, the game was settled on penalties, where Real Sociedad edged it 4-3 to lift the trophy.

The decision to substitute Lookman, especially while Atlético were chasing the game and benefiting from his attacking presence, sparked debate among fans and analysts.

Speaking after the match, Simeone described the change as a tactical move to adjust his attacking setup.

“I believed bringing Sørloth upfront would give us more attacking options, while Julián could step into Lookman’s position. We also shifted Baena to the left flank. That was the idea behind the substitution,” he explained.

Despite the defeat, Lookman continued to show his importance to the team, recording 11 goal contributions since joining in the winter transfer window—second only to Álvarez in that period. He also made history as the first Nigerian to score in a Copa del Rey final since Finidi George in 1997.

The loss is a setback for Atlético in their pursuit of silverware, with their La Liga title hopes already gone since their 2020–21 triumph.

Focus now shifts to the UEFA Champions League semi-final, where they will face Arsenal, as Simeone aims to rally his squad and build on the positives from the performance.