SanMamés will recover an emblematic scene of Basque football next Sunday, when Athletic Club and Real Sociedad face each other in the derby in their own stadium. The two teams will recreate the memorable image of December 5, 1976, when goalkeeper JoséÁngelIribar and defender InaxioKortabarria stood in front of their squads carrying the Ikurriña, the Basque flag.
The Ibaigane club has announced that both players will return to the pitch with the same flag they used in the old Atotxa stadium. The goalkeepers and defenders of both teams will be received by a corridor formed by the current Zurigorris and Txuri-Urdines footballers, creating a visual bridge between the past and present of the derby. La iniciativa busca resaltar el valor histórico y social que la imagen conserva, incluso cinco décadas después.
In addition to the recreation of the Ikurriña, the meeting will feature a tribute to UnaiSimón. The Athletic goalkeeper has been recognized as the best goalkeeper in the world by receiving the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or gala on Monday. The Alaves club, for its part, will present the award to the Athletic fans, recognizing the importance of the fans' contribution to the team's success.
The derby, which will be played at the SanMamés stadium, promises to be an event full of history and emotion. Fans will be able to witness the commemoration of two legends of Basque football and the recognition of one of the best goalkeepers in the world, while Athletic and Real Sociedad face off in a duel that, beyond the goals, will celebrate the identity and tradition of both teams.