Now is Isak, immortal in San Sebastián.
By: Adam Pinthorp
(Software translation)
We have to go back many years, to understand how special this final was. Why, it meant so much. For Athletic, for Real Sociedad & for the whole of the Basque Country.
In 1976, the club's respective captains,
Inaxio Kortabarría and
José Ángel Iribar, together carried the Basque flag
Ikurriña out on the pitch for a derby. Every now and then, the Basque flag and symbol were completely banned in Spain. Athletic and Real Sociedad, did not care. They wanted an end to it. They would gain acceptance. They wanted to put forward the Basque case.
Despite the fact that there was a great uproar and that the action was illegal, there were no further consequences. Later,
Ikurriñan was accepted instead.
The derby matches between Athletic and Real Sociedad, have always been special. Much, precisely, because of this reason. These are the Basque Country's, two biggest clubs. For logical reasons, each other's antagonists. But also two clubs that historically have always fought for the same thing - and therefore always had each other's deepest respect.
Actually, yesterday's cup final was played a year ago. Athletic agreed to postpone the final, in the hope that the audience would be welcomed. It did not matter, that Athletic lost a chance to reach the European Games. The audience, the Basque, was more important. The match, this particular match, was most important.
Now, no one could predict how bad the pandemic could be. Unfortunately, there was no audience now either. But the derby and the significance of the final, did not fail for that.
The greatest derby of all time
has been written about.
It is possible that that match in 1976, for symbolism and the future of the Basque Country, was more important. Sportingly, yesterday's cup final is completely superior.
What about the match, then? Yes, it was noticeable how much both teams wanted to win. It manifested itself, in the fear of losing. In the end, it was a penalty kick that decided everything.
Mikel Oyarzabal, born in Eibar but in Real Sociedad since 2011, scored the winning goal in the second half.
I also think it is appropriate to praise,
Roberto Olabe. A man who worked in Real Sociedad's sporting management, and built an incredibly strong team.
Zubieta primarily plus some top players,
is a motto that has given full effect. I think Mikel Oyarzabal,
David Silva and
Alexander Isak, in different ways, symbolize it well.
Oyarzabal who has come a long way through his own ranks and reached the A-team. Silva as an older top player and Isak as a developing young player with enormous potential, and as a future sales alternative. That Real Sociedad's starting eleven yesterday cost the club around 30 million euros in signing money, which tells a lot about its own academy (four self-educated players started, three more came in) and what a fingertip feeling the club had in the way of picking players.
The fact that Real Sociedad does not only have to limit its catchment area when it comes to players to the Basque Country or players connected to the region, means that the lead over Athletic is large. This makes La Real a team to be reckoned with in the top tier, in the long run. This means, that La Real will eventually win a historic title like this. The club's first, since the 80's. And a first heavy title, for Isaac. Now, he is immortal in San Sebastián. He came out as the top scorer of the tournament as well, which makes it an excellent performance by the young player.
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A. Budiak
@carjulian05
@
@ucasti
Congrats!
