All the followers of the Real would give what was in their power so that the south end of the wonderful Anoeta Stadium did not have to bear the name of Aitor Zabaleta. 23 years after the damn night he was murdered at the Vicente Calderón, the spirit of the deceased fan is still present every time Real plays in his new home and yesterday, the day after the anniversary of the tragedy in Madrid, he put a little on his part for his team to advance to the round of 32 of the Europa League. If he had been in the field, watching the performance of the Real, he would have removed the characteristic top hat with which he relates to one of the last images of Zabaleta with life.
“Ez dugu ahaztuko. Orain eta beti bihotzean. ” the center a figure representing Aitor. In the north background, likewise, two huge black hearts drawn on the seats came to ratify the mourning of the Real family for the unreason of not being able to have one of their own since 8 December 1998.
The game came out perfectly and the 24,940 supporters who defied the untimely weather conditions to get closer to Anoeta were able to start with the classic shout of “Aitor, Aitor, Aitor Zabaleta!” The night that Real was killed, he was eliminated from the UEFA Cup. Yesterday, Aitor would be proud of what he saw on and off the pitch.