Real Sociedad is beginning to intensively prepare for Atlético de Madrid’s visit to the Reale Arena to play the Copa del Rey round of 16 match. It is an appointment marked in red, due to its complexity and for advancing in a tournament in which they once again have high hopes for Donostia. And that is why they cling to any precedent that could help them gain more morale than the squad trained by Imanol Alguacil already has., especially after breaking their losing streak in the league with the victory against Celta, although that last match between the San Sebastian team is a long way off. But there are several precedents that fill the realistic environment with optimism.
The first has to do, precisely, with the last Real-Atlético that was played in the Copa del Rey with the tournament so advanced. It happened in the 1987-88 season. The team from San Sebastian had just won the Copa del Rey last season and walked steadily into the season. With a squad in which some two-time League champions such as Arconada, Gorriz and Zamora still remained, and in which other youngsters such as Bakero, Txiki Beguiristain, Loren and Lopez Rekarte, among others, were already important. The game was played in the missing and longed for Atotxa, to bursting as usual. On a particularly rainy night, with muddy grass. Old-fashioned football. La Real literally went over Atlético de Madrid with goals from Loren, Beguiristain and López Rekarte, a penalty saved, of course, by Arconada. An indelible memory that still remains in the collective imagination of Real Sociedad fans, because that season the team from San Sebastian once again reached a Copa del Rey final, which they lost in Madrid against Barcelona coached by the ill-fated Luis Aragonés. But the connection with Wednesday’s game is that, just like then, La Real came from winning the Copa del Rey last year (although it was from the 2020 edition, the final was played in 2021)., which is why Donostia longs for history to repeat itself.
The other precedents no longer have to do with the rival, Atlético; but with the date, January 19. It is a day that most people do not say anything, but in San Sebastián it is a very important night, because it is the eve of ‘San Sebastián Day’, the great day of the year for all the people of Donostia in which its famous Tamborrada is celebrated. That night, there are dinners at Gastronomic Societies and restaurants in the city to later celebrate the raising of the flag of San Sebastián, which begins 24 uninterrupted hours of parties in its streets. Although this year, again, the coronavirus has taken the celebration and there will not be another Tamborrada for adults, although there will be for children. Be that as it may, the night of the 19th is always different, and when the Real plays at home (something that is usually avoided) very special atmospheres are produced in the San Sebastian stadium. And they have helped Real live unforgettable moments. Barcelona can give a good account of this. In 2013, Real received Barça in a festive atmosphere at Anoeta, and after losing 0-2, they came back 3-2 in the second half with a goal from Agirretxe in stoppage time that brought the apotheosis to the stands. The hoisting of the tamborrada was happier than ever. And in 2017, Barcelona also visited San Sebastián on January 19, and Real was able to achieve a very valuable draw in very difficult conditions. The people of San Sebastian do not lose at home when they play on the eve of their big festivity. And this year, although much of their party has been suspended, they hope to keep that data intact.