Athletic Club – Real Madrid: Athletic Club Basque In Victory Over Real (2-1)

Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Club team capitalised on two mistakes by Real Madrid to beat Los Blancos 2-1 at the San Mames. Jude Bellingham pulled one back for Real but it wasn’t enough to save the Madrid outfit from a loss that has temporarily dented their title hopes as things stand. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Gaurav Krishnan. 

“Only three minutes left for you, bowler hat!”, exclaimed Fred Pentland in the closing minutes of the 1923 Copa del Rey final which Athletic Club went on to win. The mercurial Pentland may be lost somewhere in the history books of Athletic Club, but it’s certain he would be cheering his team on from the beyond, especially on this particular night – a night to remember for the Bilbao club.

Pentland was one of the foreigners who would sow the seeds of tika-taka in Spain, instilling the short passing game & leading Athletic Club to early glory. He managed Bilbao during the 1920s & 30s during the infancy of the Spanish game & was nicknamed ‘El Bombin’ or ‘The Bowler’ by his Athletic Club players because of his attire which included a bowler hat, which he rarely forgot to wear. Under Pentland Athletic Club won two La Liga titles & five Copa Del Rey trophies, leaving a legacy at the club to be admired.

Nearly a century on, Athletic Club welcomed current La Liga holders Real Madrid to Bilbao on a cold night at the San Mames. Speaking before the game, Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde remained cautious & wary of Real’s wealth of attacking talent. As reported . . .