Postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic which paralyzed European football last spring, the 2020 King's Cup finally had its epilogue after 350 days of waiting, at the Olympic stadium in Seville on Saturday April 3, with Real Sociedad's 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Spain international and Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal gave Real Sociedad their first Copa del Rey since 1987 by converting a 63rd-minute penalty to Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in Seville, and so offered an epic ending to a historic 2020 edition.
🏆 CUP CHAMPIONS!
AUPA REAL !!!
💙💙💙 # Gurekin |
#AurreraReala pic.twitter.com/k7qdsKLA3U
- Real Sociedad (@RealSociedadFR) April 3, 2021
Athletic Bilbao struggling
The enormous downpour which showered the pitch a few seconds after the kick-off seemed to have cooled Marcelino's players who completely made it through their final.
But Athletic Bilbao also had its chances, on lightning counterattacks and sharp crosses and this big strike from the thirty meters of Inigo Martinez, returned over his crossbar with his fingertips by Alex Remiro.
On the restart, once the rain stopped, the referee hesitated for a long time to whistle a penalty for a hand from Inigo Martinez at the edge of the box, but finally ordered a simple free kick.
It was a few minutes before the turn of the match: in the 61st, this same Martinez hung Portu from behind in the box.
The referee whistled the indisputable penalty and also sent off the Spanish defender before reversing his decision with the help of VAR and only issuing a yellow card.
Athletic finished the match at eleven, but Oyarzabal nonetheless transformed this theatrical penalty (63rd) to offer Real Sociedad their 3rd Copa del Rey.
Already winner of the Spanish Super Cup on January 17 against Barça, and qualified for the final of the Spanish Cup 2021 on April 17 again against Barça in this same Cartuja stadium in Seville, Athletic has stumbled, Saturday night.
For Real Sociedad, author of a great start to the season before faltering in 2021, and sinking on March 21 at home against the gang to Lionel Messi (6-1), this coronation gives wings in the race to Europe: the players of San Sebastián are currently fifth in La Liga, ten points from qualifying places for the C1.
The two clubs will meet again on Wednesday in a late match of La Liga Matchday 29.
With AFP
The summary of the week
France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 application
google-play-badge_FR