Copa del Rey final postponed
Real Sociedad and Athletic Club presidents Jokin Aperribay and Aitor Elizegui were at the RFEF today to discuss moving the final from 18 April to another date.
This year's Copa del Rey final between Real Sociedad and Athletic Club will not take place on the planned date, 18 April, the Spanish Football Federation decided today after a meeting with the presidents of both clubs, Real Sociedad's Jokin Aperribay and Athletic Club's Aitor Elizegui.
Both presidents were in Madrid today to meet with RFEF president Luis Rubiales in a bid to see the final rescheduled for a later date due to the Coronavirus epidemic in Spain. All parties were in agreement that the final, which was due to take place at La Cartuja in Seville on 18 April, should not be played behind closed doors and that it should be fiesta for both sets of fans.
Historic, all-Basque final must be played in front of fans
La Real and Athletic, two of the Basque Country's most historic clubs have never met in a final before and the fact that they have both made it to the Copa del Rey final is a massive event for their fans. Real Sociedad, who have won the trophy twice, last reached the final in 1988 when they lost to Barcelona. This will be their fifth appearance in the final. Athletic are the second club to have lifted the trophy the most times - they've appeared in the Copa del Rey final (in its various guises) 37 times and won it 23 times. Only Barcelona, with 30, have won the Cup more times.
Several alternative dates are being studied - the most likely, Saturday 30th May, one week after the end of LaLiga although that would involve moving a rock concert by Spanish heavy metal band Extremoduro, who were due to play the stadium on that day. The Andalucia regional government and the RFEF are negotiating to get the concert moved to another date.