Sociedad Edge Past Bilbao To Clinch Copa Del Rey Title

Mikel Oyarzabal, La Real’s captain who joined their youth academy aged 14, scored the penalty that proved the winner in Seville, where the biggest ever game between these two famous clubs had to be played without fans

MADRID

Real Sociedad won the Copa del Rey for only the third time on Saturday by beating Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in an historic final postponed from last season.

Mikel Oyarzabal, La Real’s captain who joined their youth academy aged 14, scored the penalty that proved the winner in Seville, where the biggest ever game between these two famous clubs had to be played without fans.

“It’s an incredible day,” said a tearful Oyarzabal afterward. “You remember everybody, all the people who would have loved to be here, people who have let us. This is for everyone, my family, my friends. It means everything.”

Oyarzabal’s strike secures Real Sociedad their first Copa del Rey triumph in 34 years while at the same denying a 24th success for Athletic Bilbao, who must now try to recover in time for a second attempt in two weeks’ time.