Oyarzabal, a '10' from 11m

Despite his young age, Mikel Oyarzabal, Captain and referent of the Royal SocietyHe has a confidence in himself and an improper coldness for someone so young. Today he proved it again, by scoring the first goal of the semifinals of the Copa against Mirandés. He did it from 11 meters, as he would do in the match that was played at the Reale Arena.

Anyone would say that when he retired, Xabi Prieto not only left Mikel Oyarzabal with the honor of wearing the ‘10’ of the Royal Society, but also his cold blood at the time of throwing the penalties. Whoever was a realistic captain, wearing the elastic txuri-urdin for 15 seasons, only one of the 21 maximum penalties that he threw throughout his career failed. It was January 28, 2007, in the defeat of the San Sebastian by 0-2 against their maximum rival, Athletic Club.

It seemed that it was going to be a long time until the realistic parish found a substitute for as many guarantees as the Donostiarra, but it was not long in coming. Oyarzabal scored his first penalty curiously against the only opponent who saw his predecessor fail one. In fact, in that match he scored two to Unai Simón, goalkeeper of Athletic Club, who served to prevail 1-3 in the New San Mamés.

Since then, the eibartarra has not failed a single penalty. There are already ten who have scored in his career as a professional. Also last season he scored the maximum penalty he had against Sevilla, although that time it did not help, since his team was thrashed 5-2. This season he has already scored five. In addition to the two who have helped the Txuri-Urdin qualify for a final 32 years later, it has marked Valencia, Alavés and Barcelona.

If we add all of them who put in the semifinals of the U21 Eurocup last summer against France, are a total of nine penalties scored from nine thrown. He was not the only one who threw with the U21, as he put another one in France in a friendly match played in November 2018. That characteristic jump of captain txuri-urdin is on his way to becoming one of the most infallible penalty kickers in our football.