The Copa Del Rey Final for the 2020 tournament will take place today between local rivals Real Sociedad and Athletic Club due to its postponement from the Covid-19 pandemic.
It will be the latest edition of the Basque derby where the clubs from two different cities but from the same Spanish region will face off.
The sides are representatives of their own country in the north of Spain travelling to stage their highly anticipated final 1000km south in Seville. Athletic Club's last success of the Copa del Rey came in 1984 where they accomplished the domestic double, making it a disheartening 37-year wait for the coveted trophy.
The Lions have the glorious chance of winning two of this cup in two weeks as they will also contest with Catalan giants Barcelona on the 17th April.
However, an unanticipated intimidating challenge awaits them in the form of the side from San Sebastian Real Sociedad who have thrived since the arrival of coach Imanol Alguacil.
A promising prospect has also occurred for Sociedad fans as Spanish icon Xavi Alonso extended his contact as manager of the B team until 2022. They have a line up of propitious managers to maintain their unexpected success.
A more united team with the assiststance of Ozyarabal and David Silva expanding their previous lapse of creativity.
They have a contrasting strategy to build their clubs with Sociedad renowned for marvellously tactical transfers like Monreal and Isak from Dortmund who have arrived this season. Whereas, Athletic Club are firm believers in their 100 year philosophy of fielding players from Basque's youth academies. To nurture players to success has been an incomparable factor of the club evident from the uprising of now Manchester City French centre-back Aymeric Laporte. Head coach Marcelino supports the strategy and believes in its sustainability in Bilbao, "Is it incompatible with the 21st century? I would say absolutely not, because the principles are way ahead of different situations," he says.
"When you really trust and believe in a principle it is very authentic, and the philosophy and even the way of living and way of behaving is very strong. It is very responsible, respectable and even very viable. I think it is fantastic."
Arguably the weaker side of the Basque country, have outshined their rivals in extraordinary fashion in La Liga as on average from the last 8 seasons they have placed 8th whereas Athletic Club place approximately 9th. Despite the club sharing with worldwide heavyweights Real Madrid and FC Barcelona the distinction of never being relegated from the top flight.
The Basque autonomous community officially accounts for 20% of La Liga teams and just 4.6% of the overall population of Spain. They have almost inherited the desire of regions like Catalonia to fight for their own independence as they were granted their own status of nationality in 1978.
The game is held like no other this year with both club's expressing their views, “It’s some feat, Why? Because it’s 2021, a social and sporting context totally different to the 1980s, and suddenly we find two clubs with a profound belief in what they’ve always been.” Athletic Club representatives said, “Fidelity is central to our philosophy, a team forged from our surroundings. There’s much we share with our neighbours.”
An occasion so dear in the citizens hearts is taking place with empty stadiums and disappointed fans. The difference of this derby is additionally the rise of Real Sociedad and shrinking their local rivals to become the underdogs in this tie instead of themselves.
Four places currently stand between the two in the league as Los Txuri-Urdin have the historic opportunity to capitalise on their first Copa del Rey since 1988 against their fellow Northerners.
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