2020 Copa del Rey final
La Cartuja in Seville hosted the final.
Event2019–20 Copa del Rey
Athletic Bilbao Real Sociedad
0 1
Date3 April 2021 (2021-04-03)
VenueLa Cartuja, Seville
Man of the MatchMikel Merino (Real Sociedad)[1]
RefereeXavier Estrada Fernández (Catalonia)[2]
Attendance0[note 1]

The 2020 Copa del Rey final was a football match that decided the winner of the 2019–20 Copa del Rey, the 118th edition of Spain's primary football cup (including two seasons where two rival editions were played). The match was played at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville[3] between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, the first Basque derby final.[4][5]

Originally scheduled for 18 April 2020, the match was postponed with the agreement of the participating clubs on 11 March (with no new date decided at that point) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which had led to football matches being cancelled or played behind closed doors as a measure to prevent the spread of the virus, in the hope that the delay would provide time to contain the outbreak and allow the final to take place with a full stadium as in normal circumstances.[6] The final was played on 3 April 2021,[7] despite earlier press rumours that had suggested it would be a day later.[8]

Real Sociedad won the final 1–0 thanks to a second-half penalty converted by Mikel Oyarzabal, achieving their second Copa del Rey title[9][10] (in 1909 it was won by its forerunner, Club Ciclista de San Sebastián), ending a 34-year trophy drought dating to 1987.[11][12]

Background

Real Sociedad were competing in their eighth Copa del Rey final, having lost their last final in 1988 to Barcelona. Athletic Bilbao were competing in their 38th final,[note 2] having lost their last final in 2015, also to Barcelona.[14] In reaching the final, both teams were assured qualification for the four-team 2020–21 Supercopa de España;[15] this four-team competition was played in January 2021 and won by Athletic.[16]

In the 1910 Copa del Rey (which had two rival tournaments running in parallel), the two clubs participated in the three-team group of the UECF competition along with Madrid FC. The decisive match was between the Basque teams (Athletic winning 1–0),[17][18] but as it was not a final in the traditional knockout format and the newly-formed Real Sociedad were playing under the name 'Vasconia' for licensing reasons,[19] it was not widely recognised as an equivalent to their meeting 110 years later.[20][13]

350-day delay

Around the time of the original date for the final, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) had indicated they would grant the designated Europa League group stage berth, typically given to the winners of the tournament, to Athletic Bilbao (10th position in La Liga at the time of its suspension with eleven rounds remaining) should the match not be played within the period of 2019–20,[21] as Real Sociedad (4th place) seemed likely to qualify for at least the Europa League and possibly the Champions League via their league position. However, on 30 April, UEFA stated that the final must be played by 3 August to activate the designated qualification place, otherwise this would revert to the team finishing seventh in La Liga (either with the fixtures completed or the standings declared).[22] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be very unlikely that any final played by then would allow spectators into the stadium, a factor both clubs had declared was essential when it was initially postponed. Athletic submitted a formal protest against UEFA's instruction,[23] and on 4 May both teams officially reiterated their stance to delay the match until such a time as supporters would be able to attend it.[24][25]

When the league resumed in June 2020, the form of both clubs was poor: Athletic Bilbao collected 14 points from 33 available, while Real Sociedad gained only 10 points and slipped down the table; however, five of those came in the last three matchdays, including one from an 88th-minute equaliser against Atlético Madrid on the final day[26] to keep them just above Granada and Getafe – they finished sixth and qualified for the Europa League group stage, the same status as would have been afforded the Copa winner. Athletic's challenge had already fallen short and they placed eleventh.[27]

Route to the final

Real Sociedad played in eight matches in the competition (including the final), winning each of them without needing extra time or penalties to progress on any occasion, the run including a dramatic away victory over Real Madrid at the quarter-final stage.[28][29]

Athletic Bilbao Round Real Sociedad
Opponent Result Opponent Result
Intercity 3–0 (A) First round Becerril 8–0 (A)
Sestao River 4–0 (A) Second round Ceuta 4–0 (A)
Elche 1–1 (5–4 p) (A) Round of 32 Espanyol 2–0 (H)
Tenerife 3–3 (4–2 p) (A) Round of 16 Osasuna 3–1 (H)
Barcelona 1–0 (H) Quarter-finals Real Madrid 4–3 (A)
Granada 1–0 (H), 1–2 (A) Semi-finals Mirandés 2–1 (H), 1–0 (A)

Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away

Match

Details

Athletic Bilbao0–1Real Sociedad
Report
  • Oyarzabal 63' (pen.)
Attendance: 0[note 1]
Athletic Bilbao
Real Sociedad
GK1Spain Unai Simón
RB18Spain Óscar de Marcos
CB5Spain Yeray Álvarez
CB4Spain Iñigo MartínezYellow card 62'
LB17Spain Yuri Berchichedownward-facing red arrow 90+3'
RM12Spain Álex Berenguerdownward-facing red arrow 76'
CM14Spain Dani GarcíaYellow card 35'downward-facing red arrow 76'
CM27Spain Unai Vencedordownward-facing red arrow 68'
LM10Spain Iker Muniain (c)
CF9Spain Iñaki Williams
CF22Spain Raúl García
Substitutes:
GK13Spain Jokin Ezkieta
DF3Spain Unai Núñez
DF15Spain Iñigo Lekue
DF21Spain Ander Capaupward-facing green arrow 90+3'
DF24Spain Mikel Balenziaga
MF6Spain Mikel Vesgaupward-facing green arrow 76'
MF8Spain Unai Lópezupward-facing green arrow 68'
FW7Spain Ibai Gómez
FW20Spain Asier Villalibreupward-facing green arrow 76'
Manager:
Spain Marcelino
GK1Spain Álex Remiro
RB18Spain Andoni Gorosabeldownward-facing red arrow 90+3'
CB5Spain Igor Zubeldia
CB24France Robin Le Normand
LB20Spain Nacho Monreal
DM36Spain Martín Zubimendi
CM21Spain David Silvadownward-facing red arrow 85'
CM8Spain Mikel MerinoYellow card 71'
RF7Spain Portudownward-facing red arrow 89'
CF19Sweden Alexander Isakdownward-facing red arrow 89'
LF10Spain Mikel Oyarzabal (c)
Substitutes:
GK34Spain Gaizka Ayesa
DF6Spain Aritz Elustondoupward-facing green arrow 90+3'
DF12Spain Aihen Muñoz
DF15France Modibo Sagnan
MF11Belgium Adnan Januzaj
MF16Spain Ander Guevaraupward-facing green arrow 85'
FW9Spain Carlos Fernándezupward-facing green arrow 89'
FW22Spain Ander Barrenetxeaupward-facing green arrow 89'
FW25Spain Jon Bautista
Manager:
Spain Imanol Alguacil

Man of the Match:
Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad)[1]

Assistant referees:[2]
Roberto Alonso Fernández (Community of Madrid)
Guadalupe Porras Ayuso (Extremadura)
Fourth official:[2]
José Luis Munuera Montero (Andalusia)
Reserve assistant referee:[2]
Íñigo Prieto López de Cerain (Navarre)
Video assistant referee:[2]
Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva (Galicia)
Assistant video assistant referee:[2]
José Luis González González (Castile and León)

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Nine named substitutes.
  • Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time.[note 3]

Notes

  1. 1 2 The match was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.
  2. ↑ Athletic's website claimed it was their 40th final,[13] but this total included the 1902 Copa de la Coronación, the status of which is disputed both as a Copa del Rey event and as a tournament entered by their club, and the scheduled 1904 Copa del Rey final which was never played.
  3. ↑ Each team was given only three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mikel Merino, MVP de la final: "He pensado primero en mis compañeros y en la afición"" [Mikel Merino, MVP of the final: "I thought first of my teammates and the fans"]. Royal Spanish Football Federation (in Spanish). 4 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Xavier Estrada Fernández, árbitro de la final de la Copa del Rey Athletic Club – Real Sociedad" [Xavier Estrada Fernández, referee of the Copa del Rey final Athletic Club v Real Sociedad]. Royal Spanish Football Federation (in Spanish). 1 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Official: La Cartuja stadium in Seville to host Copa del Rey finals until 2023". as.com. AS. 5 February 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. ↑ "Copa del Rey: El Athletic asegura un derbi en la final" [Copa del Rey: Athletic ensures a derby in the final]. UEFA.com (in Spanish). Union of European Football Associations. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  5. ↑ Lowe, Sid (2 April 2021). "A final like no other: la Real, Athletic and the biggest Basque derby ever". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "The final of the Copa del Rey postponed". Athletic Bilbao. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  7. ↑ "Official: The Copa del Rey 2019-20 final set for April 3". Athletic Bilbao. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Last season's Copa del Rey final to be on April 4 and this year's on April 18". Marca. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "TRACK RECORD - The team in white win their 20th Copa trophy. - LIST OF WINNERS OF THE SPANISH CHAMPIONSHIP - COPA DE SM EL REY". RFEF.es (RFEF official website). 7 May 2023. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Real Federación Española de Fútbol (March 2011). "Historial" (PDF). Revista Oficial de la R.F.E.F. p. 70. Archived from the original (pdf) on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "Oyarzabal scores winner in Copa del Rey final". BBC Sport. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  12. ↑ Lowe, Sid (3 April 2021). "Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Real Sociedad, our 16th different Copa final opponent". Athletic Bilbao. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  14. ↑ Tejedor Carnicero, José Vicente (18 July 2019). "Spain – List of Cup Finals". RSSSF. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  15. ↑ "Copa del Rey: Athletic Bilbao beat Granada to set up all-Basque final with Sociedad". BBC Sport. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  16. ↑ Bell, Arch (17 January 2021). "Williams sinks Barcelona and Athletic claim the Supercopa". Marca. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "El Athletic de Bilbao, campeón de la Copa de España de fútbol de 1910" [Athletic de Bilbao, champion of the 1910 Spanish Cup] (in Spanish). Euskonews & Media. 25 February 2005. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  18. ↑ "Athletic Bilbao Scores Late to Set Up All-Basque Copa Del Rey Final". Sports Illustrated. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  19. ↑ "Copa del Rey Alfonso XIII 1910". LinguaSport (in Spanish).
  20. ↑ "Será un derbi" [It will be a derby] (in Spanish). Real Sociedad. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  21. ↑ "Ibai Gomez: 'I prefer to play the Copa del Rey with fans than qualify for Europe". Football España. 2 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  22. ↑ "The team that finishes 7th will play the Europa League if there is no Copa del Rey final". Diario AS. 30 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  23. ↑ "Official announcement". Athletic Bilbao. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  24. ↑ "Official announcement". Athletic Bilbao. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  25. ↑ "Copa del Rey|Official announcement". Real Sociedad. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  26. ↑ "Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Sociedad: Late Januzaj equaliser secures Europa League spot". Goal.com. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  27. ↑ "Athletic Club 0-2 Leganés: The Race For Europe Ends". Inside Athletic. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  28. ↑ Lowe, Sid (6 February 2020). "Real Madrid dumped out by Real Sociedad in Copa del Rey thriller". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  29. ↑ "Real Madrid 3–4 Real Sociedad". BBC Sport. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
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