B2BinPay, an official sponsor of the Athletic Club during the 2023-2024 La Liga Season, is proud to celebrate the club’s latest victory.
After 40 years without a trophy, Athletic Club finally gets what they’ve been dreaming of and wins the Copa del Rey title. The final whistle blew at 1-1, and teams could not be separated after the extra times. Penalty shootouts brought the long-awaited title for Basques with a final score of 4-2 against Real Mallorca.
After this victory, Athletic Bilbao has 24 Copa del Rey championships in total. The Spanish city of Seville saw the goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala’s crucial intervention in reaching the title. It is the team’s first major trophy since 1984.
Bilbao Legacy
The Basque Country's culture and legacy are strongly reflected in Athletic Bilbao's philosophy of football, which places a strong value on developing local talent. This concept dictates that players must either be from the Basque country or have attended the Lezama academy of a Basque club. It is this strategy that sets Athletic Bilbao apart on the international scene.
The club's dedication to Basque-only players is a reflection of its character and ties to the Basque community, not just a question of policy. By highlighting Athletic Bilbao as a representation of Basque heritage, this approach builds pride and unity within the community.
Despite the challenges throughout the years in competing for silverware, the Basque dedication finally brought back the memory of winning the championship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP6__QU0jv0
The Copa Del Rey Campaign
Athletic Bilbao faced several difficult games on their way to the final. The team's success was largely due to the strategic choices made by coach Ernesto Valverde. His tactics and sense of the game were crucial in helping Athletic Bilbao get through challenging times in the league.
Valverde, who had already won the Cup with Barcelona, beat his former team, as well as Athletico Madrid, to reach the final, whereas against Real Mallorca, Nico Williams and Alex Berenguer played key roles. Nico assisted in the goal that led to a draw, extending the match to penalties. Alex Berenguer scored the winning penalty.
The squad overcame a history of lost finals and wasted opportunities to reach the deciding game. This was a particularly important win for players like Iker Muniain, who had suffered many losses and had been with the team for over 15 years.
