These three friends, part of the same group and avid football fans, are clear that some opportunities cannot be missed. Ane Gimenez, Garazi Garmendia, and Eider Mendizabal, all from Beasain, are heading to Seville to watch the Copa del Rey final between Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid. They share a mix of excitement, nerves, and the shared feeling of being part of something that doesn't happen every day.
Hopefully, it won't be the only time.
Smiling, they clarify: “Hopefully, it won't be the only time.” But, just in case, they didn't want to miss this event. “It had to be experienced,” they agree. Furthermore, they acknowledge that this match holds special significance. Inevitably, they compare it to the last Copa del Rey won by Real Sociedad, whose final was postponed due to the pandemic and played behind closed doors. “That's the final we couldn't truly experience,” they explain.
With Real Sociedad already in the semifinals, Seville ceased to be a distant place and became a very possible destination. They started eyeing it. During the tie against Athletic Club, which the Gipuzkoan team resolved with victories in both legs, they already envisioned themselves in the Sevillian capital, dressed in blue and white. The confirmation of their passage to the final solidified their travel plans. Up to six friends decided to join the trip. From then on, they organized themselves, looked for options, and joined a txuri-urdin tide that, they assure, will leave Beasain, its region, and a good part of Gipuzkoa half empty.
They are not wrong. Numerous buses have been organized in the area to accompany the team, and they have secured a spot on one that will depart from Zumarraga. The journey will begin on Friday at midnight. Ahead lies a long road trip to Seville to experience a day they hope to remember forever. And they are convinced of the Donostiarra club's victory. Ane Gimenez predicts a 3-2 for Real Sociedad, Garazi Garmendia forecasts a 2-1, and Eider Mendizabal anticipates a 1-0. All imagine a close match, one that will be suffered until the end.
Upon their arrival in Seville, and almost without rest, the group of friends will take advantage of the first hours to explore the city before heading to the Real Sociedad Fan Zone, located a few meters from the La Cartuja stadium. There, the pre-final atmosphere will begin, which they will experience in different ways but with the same intensity. Garmendia will be one of the lucky ones to enter the stadium to watch the match; she will do so with her family. Gimenez and Mendizabal, however, will follow and cheer from the fan zone.
Afterward, whether their beloved team wins or loses —a team they have followed since childhood and cheered on together on numerous occasions since becoming members in 2020— the plan is already decided: the party will continue. Dressed in their blue and white kit and with the ikurriña prominently displayed, they will let the night stretch on without looking at the clock. They already have tickets for a nightclub where they will put the finishing touch on a day that promises to be unforgettable. “If Real wins, we'll go celebrate; if not, to drown our sorrows,” they comment with laughter, certain that, whatever happens, the night will be long. Indeed, the evening will extend until the return bus departs at 08:00.
Ane, Garazi, and Eider point to Mikel Oyarzabal as their main reference in the txuri-urdin locker room. However, they also highlight the pride they feel in seeing that the squad includes two players from Beasain, Aritz Elustondo and Beñat Turrientes, to whom they do not hesitate to send all their support and encouragement for the event.
