Search results
The Basque derby (in Basque Euskal Derbia, in Spanish derbi Vasco) is the name of the football local derby between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao. It embodies the inter-city rivalry between Bilbao and Donostia-San Sebastián, respectively the capitals of the neighbouring provinces of Biscay (Bizkaia) and Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country region ...
- Basque Derby: The Early Years
- The Civil War
- Title Successes
- Relegation Trouble in The Modern Era
- A Still-Relevant Rivalry
The first ever fixture between both clubs took place on 4th April 1909 at the Atotxa Stadium. Club Ciclista de San Sebastian (now known as Real Sociedad) beat Athletic Bilbao 4-2 at home in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey. They went on to win the competition. After the cup fixture, despite being separated by just over 60 miles, the sides didn’t ...
The Civil War arrived the following year, and Spanish football was put to a stop from 1936 to 1940. When football resumed, it took two seasons for Real Sociedad to return to the top flight. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao continued to finish in a strong position in La Liga. The 1941 season carried on the rivalry from where it left off. Athletic Bilbao t...
Even though the side were relegated and promoted a couple times, Real Sociedad started to dominate the Basque derby from 1968 to 1982. They came out as the winners in 18 of the 28 derbies. In the early 1980s, Real Sociedad won back-to-back La Liga titles in 1981 and 1982. Athletic Bilbao replicated the achievement in the following two years. From n...
Going into the 21stcentury, Real Sociedad were close to completing a massive upset in 2003. They were involved in a title race for the first time in many years. The next few seasons were unthinkable for the club as they suffered a huge decline. It saw them get relegated into the second division in 2007. This was a tough time for La Real fans. Under...
Despite Athletic Bilbao finishing higher in the league than Real Sociedad in recent years, the rivalry still remains very competitive. In fact, The Lions are yet to complete a victory away at La Real since October 2011. Not only that, but in 2013, Real Sociedad allowed the side to use the Anoeta Stadium for the first two home fixtures of the La Lig...
Jan 13, 2024 · The historic enmity between the Basque country’s two biggest cities, industrial Bilbao and aristocratic San Sebastian, found a sporting outlet when football arrived in the early 20th century.
- John Menzies
May 4, 2020 · Origins and history of the Basque derby between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad.
- James Cormack
Jan 14, 2024 · Origins of the Basque Derby. As soon as Real Sociedad came into existence in 1909, there was an obvious rivalry with their regional neighbors. Much of the early rivalry was fed by Sociedad’s accusations of Atheltic Bilbao achieving their success in the Copa del Rey using non-Spanish players.
Oct 29, 2021 · This delay was not only due to the pandemic, but more-so the two clubs refusal to play without their fans in the stadium. It was dubbed the most important derby ever and the most significant moment in Basque football history. The first time the two clubs had met in a cup final.
People also ask
What happened in Bilbao before the Basque derby?
What is a Basque derby?
When was the Basque derby first played?
Who won last Basque derby at San Mamés?
When was the first meeting between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad?
Why is a Basque derby called a 'friendly rivalry'?
Jan 15, 2024 · Four hours before Saturday’s Basque derby began, the narrow cobbled streets of Bilbao’s old town were thronged with red-and-white Athletic Club jerseys and scarves, as fans fuelled up...
