Bertso-Derbya

The Athletic Club Foundation and Sala BBK, with the cooperation of the Real Sociedad Foundation, have organized the first edition of ‘Bertso-Derbya’, a peculiar Athletic Club-Real Sociedad derby disputed in ‘bertsos’ (improvised/impromptu verse singing).

Coinciding with the celebration of the football derby between our team and Real Sociedad, Sala BBK of Bilbao will host a duel between three rojiblanco and three txuriurdin ‘bertsolaris’ on 22 February, at 19:00 hours. Each team will have a captain designated by the clubs, and another two ‘bertsolaris’ that will be chosen by popular vote through the clubs’ websites and social networks.

The Athletic Club team captain is Anjel Mari Peñagarikano; Real Sociedad captain is Andoni Egaña. The other two ‘bertsolaris’ for each team will be selected by the results of internet voting from the following list:

Athletic Club: Igor Elorza, Jone Uria, Oihana Bartra, Sustrai Colina, Iratxe Ibarra and Fredy Paya

Real Sociedad: Maialen Lujanbio, Amets Arzallus, Amaia Agirre, Maialen Lujambio, Agin Rezola, Beñat Gaztelumendi and Alaia Martin

Polls will be open from today until 7 January.

The teams will have to be mixed, which is why as both team captains are male, should the most voted ‘bertsolari’ (improvised/impromptu verse singing) be a man, the highest ranking female ‘bertsolari’ will be selected as the third team member. In case the most voted ‘bertsolari’ is a woman, the following representative will be the second most voted, whether male or female.

The purpose of this event is to vindicate the existing healthy rivalry between both teams and the shared generally enjoyable atmosphere that is expressed in the derbies between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad. Furthermore, it also seeks the reinforcement of a common culture that unites us and the promotion of football as a subject within the practice of ‘bertsolarism’.

Admission will be free until seating capacity is filled.