Return to 1987: The Cup Final between Atleti and Real Sociedad

Football, with its infinite capacity to surprise us, has delivered a final we thought belonged to the archives of memory. The upcoming clash at La Cartuja between Atlético de Madrid and Real Sociedad is not merely a Copa del Rey final; it is unfinished business dating back to 27 June 1987 under the Zaragoza sky. That night, Atleti and La Real met at La Romareda to script one of the most agonizing chapters in the history of the tournament. It was a duel that transcended tactics, played out in suffocating heat that only heightened the tension inherent in a cup final.

The match began with a goal from López Ufarte, putting the San Sebastián side ahead just ten minutes in. However, Atlético de Madrid, true to form, refused to surrender. With Luis Aragonés at the helm, the Colchoneros equalised just minutes later thanks to the cunning of the Uruguayan Da Silva. The 1-1 scoreline stood until Txiki Begiristain restored the advantage for La Real shortly before half-time.

The final seemed destined to go the way of the Txuri-Urdin until Rubio managed to equalise in the 74th minute, sending the match into extra time. Neither side could find a winner during that additional half-hour, and with the players completely exhausted, referee Ramos Marcos blew his whistle to signal a penalty shootout.

One clear protagonist emerged as the hero from the twelve-yard mark. The legendary Luis Arconada, with his trademark composure and serenity, stood tall to save the decisive penalty from Quique Ramos, gifting San Sebastián a cup triumph that is still spoken of today across generations of grandfathers, fathers, and sons.

Almost four decades later, destiny grants us another final between Atlético de Madrid and Real Sociedad, on a new stage and in a different century. The Colchonero club travels to Seville seeking their eleventh title in what will be their twentieth final. Their pedigree in the competition is enviable, particularly remembered for their golden era in the 60s and 70s, when they chained together triumphs against direct rivals. Meanwhile, the proud Txuri-Urdin are chasing their fourth crown. Following the aforementioned milestone in 1987, their recent 2020 victory in the Basque derby against Athletic Club confirmed that the San Sebastián side retains that competitive DNA and the ability to bear the weight of history when the cup is on the line.

To speak of this fixture is to invoke an era when starting line-ups were recited by heart with numbers from one to eleven. In 1987, John Toshack and Luis Aragonés engaged in a tactical chess match between British structure and the sharp intellect of the ‘Wise Man of Hortaleza’. On this occasion, football grants us the privilege of closing the circle that was left open on Aragonese soil. Seville will not only host a final, but it will be the place where football finally brings closure to a wait that has lasted nearly forty years.