Alex Padilla: The game his family have longed for

Alex Padilla is living a dream on this tour. As is his Mexican family, who are overjoyed to be reunited with their son, nephew and cousin in the country where the young goalkeeper spent the first seven years of his life.

Alex was born in Zarautz and when he was three months old, his parents, Iñaki and Armida, decided to move to Camargo, a town in  Chihuahua, where the Pérez family are based. His Basque father, Iñaki Padilla, travelled with the squad to Mexico but will not be able to attend the match in Aguascalientes.

"It's a gift, an unforgettable experience," said the shotstopper, who spent last season with Bilbao Athletic. His dad, who met Armida on a trip to Mexico explained it was difficult to put into words what this means for the family, while Alex's mum said her son "always wanted to be a goalkeeper".

It wasn't Alex's first friendly with Athletic, as he also took part in pre-season last summer, but it was the most special of all. It's a pity he couldn't become a hero in the penalty shoot-out, but the experience was worth it.

It was an exciting and emotional moment for the entire family, who have been waiting years to see him play in Mexico. They gave him a massive welcome at the airport and enjoyed the occasion as if it were the match of their lives. They still have the Necaxa game to look forward to.