The Last Time Barcelona Met Athletic Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey Final, This Happened….

By: Daryl | May 13th, 2009

It’s Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final tonight. Several interesting things about this game. First, there’s the irony of two separatist regions (Catalonia and Basque respectively) competing for the Spanish “King’s Cup”. Second, Barça and Athletic have won the Copa del Rey more than any other teams – 24 wins for Barça, 23* for Athletic.

Third, it’s this potentially legendary Barcelona team’s first chance to lift some actual silverware. And last but definitely not least this is a repeat of the 1984 final, when another supposedly unstoppable Barcelona team were beaten 1-0 by Bilbao, resulting in the above epic fight after the whistle. You might recognize that little #10 kicking anyone who comes near him as Diego Maradona. Somehow I don’t see Leo Messi following in Diego’s footsteps that tonight.

*Or maybe 24, if you count Club Vizcaya’s 1902 win as an Athletic Bilbao win

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Category: World Football

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Kxevin

4-1 good guys, in case folks are curious. Bilbao scored first, and their fans were actually making the cameras shake. Pretty crazy. Then Yaya did a solo rumble/long-range shot, and from then the avalanche began.

1 down, 2 more to go.
Ronald

yea, maradona was out for blood that game, a big reason was that Andoni Goikoetxea ( also known as the butcher of Bilbao ) broke his ankle the year before:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
ReleaseTheKrasic

Holy crap, maradona totally knees that goalie in the face in the very beginning. The goalie is for sure knocked out by that devastating blow. What a maniac.
Maximilian

Ed: As an Argentine who thinks Maradona was one of the greatest players to have ever played the game, i think your comment was...hilarious
Afshin

In his book he does not mention getting kicked in the balls when he covers this incident!! :-P
Ed

Sentenced to years of binging on cocaine and booze, followed by stomach stapling, followed by managing the Argentine national side. A little harsh if you ask me.
Steve

What punishment did # 10 get?
Kxevin

On the up side, the players will be able to save their legs by sitting through the anthem. :D
Wayne Farry

Can't wait for this match. Apparently, they're expecting there to be a chorus of boos during the national anthem. Unsuprising really.