One year on from the first match without fans at San Mamés

One year has passed since Athletic Club’s first match after the quarantine. In that first LaLiga match, the Lions faced Atlético de Madrid and both teams paid a heartfelt tribute to all the fans who had died as a result of Covid19. Just before an emotional minute’s silence, the captains of both teams placed two bouquets of flowers on a black seat.

The Lions opened this strangest of periods with a draw. An Iker Muniain goal in the 37th minute put Athletic ahead, but just two minutes later Diego Costa equalised to make it 1-1.

Football was back at The Cathedral, but without fans there was absolute silence in the stands. Footballers, coaches and everyone involved would have to get used to the new health and safety protocols.

The mandatory PCR tests before matches, the temperature taking upon entering the stadium, latex gloves, hydroalcoholic gel, the division of the stadiums into colour-coded zones to limit movement… and of course, the lack of fans and media.

In addition to the changes in safety protocols, the sport’s rules had to adapt too. Managers could now make up to five substitutions across three separate windows and hydration breaks (around the 20th minute of each half) were introduced to help players cope with the notoriously hot June and July weather.

The competition was able to come to an end, and in Athletic’s case it finished on July 19 in Granada. Almost immediately preparations began for the following season, another one in which there would be no fans in the stands. A total of 26 matches have been played without public at San Mamés, 25 in LaLiga and one in the Copa (the first leg of the 20-21 semi-final against Levante).