Copa del Rey: Athletic Bilbao loses but has a new opportunity

Is Atlético de Madrid losing the title?

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(CNN) -

These are unusual times for the Copa del Rey, the highest direct elimination competition in Spanish football.

And in the coming years, the 2021 Copa del Rey final is likely to raise a lot of questions for football trivia.

On Saturday, Real Sociedad won the 2020 Copa del Rey final, beating Athletic Bilbao 1-0.

Both teams are from the Basque Country, in northern Spain.

Real Sociedad's victory in the Copa del Rey final represents the first time the club has won a trophy since 1987.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 final was delayed in the hope that fans would be able to attend.

Ultimately that turned out to be impossible and Saturday's match was played at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville without fans.

In a mostly disappointing game, Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal scored a second-half penalty that gave Real their first Copa del Rey in 34 years.

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"It is an incredible day," Oyarzabal told reporters.

“You remember everyone, all the people who would have loved to be here, the people who left us.

This is for everyone, my family, my friends.

It means everything.

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Losing a star game always leaves a bitter taste, especially when it is against another Basque team.

It was the first time in history that Athletic played against Real Sociedad in a Copa del Rey final.

Eighteen of the 22 players who started on Saturday were Basque.

Iñigo Martínez, from Athletic Bilbao, fouls Portu, from Real Sociedad, leading to a penalty decision and a red card that was later canceled to yellow by the VAR during the Copa del Rey final.

The request of both clubs to delay the final to guarantee the attendance of the fans denied Athletic a possible place in the Europa League.

The good news for Athletic is that they will also play the final of the Copa del Rey 2021 on April 17, against Barcelona.

That final will also be played at La Cartuja.

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"When you play in a final and lose, it is a very hard moment," Athletic coach Marcelino García Toral told the club's website.

“We were not ourselves and when you deviate from your usual version, what happened to us can happen to us.

They surpassed us and we must congratulate them on their victory, "added Marcelino.

«We said before the game that the details were going to be decisive and in those details the Real was superior.

"I'm not disappointed, before the game I was very proud of my players and I still am, but I'm sad.

"Fortunately we have two finals in 15 days and from tomorrow we will try to improve little by little every day to be able to give our best in the game against Barça."

Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams (left) vies for the ball with Real Sociedad midfielder Igor Zubeldia during the 2020 Copa del Rey final.

Athletic captain Iker Munian added: “We have to raise our heads, there are important things at stake this season.

«On the 17th we have another final.

We will do everything possible to win it, we owe it to the fans.

We will start work tomorrow.

In Bilbao, Athletic fans clashed with police before the final after officers tried to prevent people from gathering in large numbers in defiance of coronavirus restrictions, according to Reuters.

"Some crazy people caused problems before the final", tweeted the mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto.

«They do not represent the values ​​of our Athletic or of our city.

Please, a little sanity and let's have fun.

Athletic has won the Copa del Rey 23 times, as well as eight La Liga titles, but they haven't won a major trophy since 1984.

However, it is an impressive record of success given the team's policy of developing young players and choosing only players native to the Basque region, born there or with Basque parents.

The Basque Country is one of the most autonomous regions of Spain, it has its own police force, educational system, language and tax agreements, according to Reuters.

Copa del Rey