Athletic hoping to make history against Real Madrid
Athletic hoping to make history against Real Madrid
Athletic Club seek second successive Supercopa in Riyadh on a momentous day
On January 16, 1957, Athletic Club beat Manchester United 5-3 at San Mamés in the European Cup in a historic duel marked by heavy snowfall in Bilbao.
Sixty-five years later, on the same day, the Lions are looking to make history against Real Madrid in Riyadh, they want to win their second consecutive Supercopa by defeating the giants.
The last time Athletic played Real Madrid for a trophy came one year after the Busby Babes’ visit, in 1958. The Lions beat Alfredo Di Stefano’s five-time champions 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
On Arabian soil, Athletic Club now have the chance to do something that would reverberate around the world. Marcelino side are competitive and the gaffer thinks they are more than capable.
Athletic defend their crown, one they so brilliantly won at La Cartuja after beating Real Madrid in the semi-finals and FC Barcelona in the final. This time around they defeated Atlético de Madrid in the first match and now we face a team of world stars led by Karim Benzema.
This Athletic team, a family that competes like no other in knockout tournaments, will today contest a fourth consecutive final in Spanish football. Once again the Lions will set out to prove that our philosophy is more than a gimmick, that it can lead to sporting success and bring silverware-
They will do so at the King Fahd Stadium, officially the home side but the away team in terms of support in the stadium, a large part of the fans will be cheering on Real Madrid today.
The 30,000 tickets allowed by the 50% reduction for COVID-19 have been sold. Goals by Yeray and Nico Williams in the semi-final have let us dream again in the Supercopa. Geuria da, Athletic!