The supporters of Deportivo Alavés, with Iraultza 1921 at the forefront, habitually make gestures towards Real Sociedad and, more specifically, to Aitor Zabaleta, the txuri-urdin fan murdered in 1998 by Atlético de Madrid ultras. But this Saturday, during the derby held at Anoeta, the babazorros went a step further, moving everyone present in the stadium.
At one point in the match, a banner could be read in the albiazul corner with the text "Aitor Zabaletagatik ekarri Kopa". That is, "Bring the Cup for Aitor Zabaleta". It was not an unexpected gesture, but it did lead to a standing ovation from the Donostia stands. It also received recognition from Real Sociedad-affiliated media, such as Onda Vasca.
Details like this are what make a fanbase great. A chilling moment when Iraultza brought out the banner, with all of Anoeta surrendering. The best fanbase that has passed through here this year; hopefully next year too.
Of course, this txuri-urdin gratitude spread across social media after the derby, with messages similar to the one above. It should be remembered that Real Sociedad will face Atlético next Saturday, from 9:00 PM, at La Cartuja. There, the Donostia team will seek their second Copa del Rey title in a few years, after defeating Athletic in 2021. It would be the third for their trophy cabinet, and with Pellegrino Matarazzo at the helm, they are confident in achieving it.
