SEVILLE: Real Sociedad beat native rivals Athletic Bilbao 1-0 within the rescheduled 2020 Copa del Rey closing on Saturday to get their palms on a serious trophy for the first time since 1987.
Captain Mikel Oyarzabal netted the winner by sending keeper Unai Simon the fallacious approach from the penalty spot within the 63rd minute after strike associate Portu was felled within the space by Athletic defender Inigo Martinez.
Martinez, a boyhood Sociedad participant who left for his or her rivals for 32 million euros ($37.64 million) in a controversial switch in 2018, was initially proven a pink card for the foul however the referee downgraded the punishment to a yellow card after a VAR evaluation.
Bringing the trophy to SAN SEBASTIÁN!!!#Gurekin | #AurreraReala pic.twitter.com/EAADNyJ8M3
— Real Sociedad (@RealSociedadEN) April 4, 2021
Sociedad dominated possession and Athletic failed to take a look at their opponents on the counter-attack, nonetheless providing little in assault whilst they chased the sport deep into the second half.
The match was postponed by a yr on the request of each golf equipment to guarantee followers might attend, that means Athletic surrendered a possible Europa League berth.
But continued coronavirus restrictions in Spain meant the showpiece in Seville’s La Cartuja stadium came about with none supporters.
Campeoness!!!! Aurrera Reala !!!! pic.twitter.com/F1kG8zyTtr
— David Silva (@21LVA) April 3, 2021
Athletic have now misplaced their final 5 Copa finals however have one other shot on the trophy after they play Barcelona on this season’s showpiece again at La Cartuja on April 17.
“It’s a beautiful day on which so many things come to your mind. Giving this victory to our fans was the best thing we could do,” stated match-winner Oyarzabal.
“There are many people who would like to have been here and there are many friends and family who left us in the worst possible way. This is for everyone, we felt their presence. There’s nothing like this feeling.”
Athletic’s Oscar de Marcos described the defeat as “a massive blow”.
“It’s very tough for us, this was a match we were so excited about and thought we could win,” he stated. “It’s very painful whenever you lose a final, regardless of who you lose to. It’s a very sad day for us.”
Sociedad’s vice-captain Asier Illarramendi lifted the trophy subsequent to Oyarzabal after being pressured to miss the ultimate due to a thigh damage sustained in Friday’s coaching session, the most recent setback in a sequence of significant accidents which led to him spending 18 months on the sidelines.
