At one minute past midnight, a self-proclaimed madman sent the Santiago Bernabéu into a frenzy and Real Madrid into the Copa del Rey final. El Loco soared above the Real Sociedad defence and into the arms of the supporters at the north end, where they had just witnessed their team pull off yet another dramatic escape. It had been long, it had been chaotic, and somehow, yet again, they were the ones celebrating. Madrid did not win, nor were they always convincing, but in the end, they were unstoppable, and it was enough.

Trailing three times, Madrid managed a draw thanks to Antonio Rüdiger’s thunderous header in the 115th minute. The game swung from 0-1 to 1-1, 1-3 to 3-3, and then 3-4 before finishing 4-4 deep into extra time.

Real Sociedad became the first non-Barcelona team to score four here since doing so themselves en route to lifting the cup four years ago. But this time, Madrid survived, edging the tie 5-4 on aggregate to reach Seville, where Atlético Madrid or Barcelona await.

This semi-final ended as expected, the Bernabéu rocking, though no one foresaw the path there or how close Real Sociedad came.

A goal down from the first leg, beaten 1-0 at home, eliminated at Old Trafford next, with just one win in five weeks – an unconvincing 2-1 against struggling Real Valladolid – and without the injured Brais Méndez, few believed La Real stood a chance. But coach Imanol Alguacil saw something, and after 15 minutes, others did too. What no one expected was how long the belief would last, deep into the night, still lingering when the clock struck 12. That was when Madrid finally delivered the fatal blow.

It had been a punishing night, but it had thrilled too, another astonishing spectacle here.

La Real started brightly, keeping possession away from a passive Madrid before striking in a flash. Martin Zubimendi’s incisive pass lured Madrid in before cutting them open. Pablo Marín flicked it on, aware of the runner over his shoulder, and there was Ander Barrenetxea, surging behind Lucas Vázquez. Darting into the box from the left, he guided his shot beneath Andriy Lunin.

For a Copa semi-final, there had been little urgency or tension, but now the tie was level. Perhaps this was on, or perhaps Madrid would respond now that they had to, as they usually do. Instead, they ambled on. They had half-chances – Endrick attempted a bicycle kick after Igor Zubeldia misjudged a bounce, Alex Remiro denied Vinícius Júnior – but no sudden surge, no typical Bernabéu rallying cry.

There was time. Talent, too. Jude Bellingham spun past Nayef Aguerd but dragged his shot wide; Rodrygo fired inches past the post. Then, Madrid equalised.

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It was a beauty. Vinícius curled a perfect outside-foot pass from deep inside his own half, teasing Zubeldia as it whistled past. Endrick raced through and deftly lifted it over Remiro. Sociedad’s lead had lasted 15 minutes. Normal service resumed?

It felt that way, and therein lay the trap: Madrid, so close to the brink, never fall. Endrick surged down the left early in the second half, almost teeing up Rodrygo.

From the corner, Bellingham headed wide from a yard out and took a glove to the face for his trouble. The Englishman later saw a 20-yard strike repelled by Remiro. At the other end, Eduardo Camavinga’s dreadful error nearly gifted Sociedad a goal.

Otherwise, Madrid plodded, prompting occasional whistles from the crowd frustrated by sloppy passing and a lack of urgency, as if they assumed they’d score eventually and be done with it.

That illusion shattered when, with 20 minutes left, Lunin brilliantly denied Zubimendi’s side-footed volley. Moments later, from two yards out, Oyarzabal skied his effort. Then, it happened. Kubo weaved into the area; his blocked shot fell to Marín, who drove in a low cross deflecting off David Alaba and in.

Madrid had introduced Kylian Mbappé by then – not a bad ace to have – but Sociedad pressed on. Zubimendi sliced another volley wide before Sociedad struck again.

Kubo danced past Luka Modric and Raúl Asencio before squaring to Oyarzabal. His shot clipped Alaba, then the post, then Lunin, then the net. Sociedad were 3-1 up, 3-2 on aggregate, and nearly through. But now, Madrid woke up, the stadium roared, and history repeated itself. Just a minute later, Vinícius, after an earful from Carlo Ancelotti, stormed up the left and delivered a cross Bellingham volleyed home.

It was level again, but with eight minutes left – an eternity for Madrid. Aurelién Tchouaméni soared to thunder home what seemed the winner.

Yet, eight minutes really was an eternity. There was still time for football’s magic, for Madrid to taste what they so often inflict. Again, Kubo tormented them.

Camavinga scythed him down, a desperate sacrifice. But from the free kick, Sergio Gómez curled a sublime delivery beyond Lunin’s reach, and Oyarzabal buried the header.

Amazingly, there was still time for Remiro to deny Bellingham’s diving header. Extra time loomed.

Sociedad, now exhausted, hung on as Madrid attacked relentlessly. Vinícius, tireless, even seemed to accelerate. He lashed the side-netting and had another shot blocked. Mbappé, too, had two chances: one blazed over, the other an audacious flick and header smothered by Remiro.

Still, Madrid surged forward. No way through. Penalties loomed. Maybe, just maybe, this time, things would be different.

And then, past midnight, up rose the perfect man to send the Bernabéu into delirium.