Txuri-urdin tide sends Real Sociedad off to Seville for Copa del Rey final | OneFootball

A sea of Real Sociedad supporters of all ages saw the team off at Zubieta on Friday as the players began their journey to Seville for Saturday's Copa del Rey final against Atlético Madrid.

The club's social media call on Thursday drew hundreds through the morning to the training complex, where the side held a final session before departing for Hondarribia airport shortly after 14:00, AS reports.

In bright spring sunshine across Gipuzkoa, the bus's short route out became a street party, with flags, scarves and a swirl of white and blue smoke.

Fans chanted in Basque and Spanish and also remembered Aitor Zabaleta, the Real supporter killed by an Atlético ultra near the Vicente Calderón.

For many, the send-off felt like redress for the one five years ago, curtailed by COVID restrictions and fears of infection.

Those limits also shaped the 1-0 final against Athletic at La Cartuja, staged behind closed doors.

A large travelling support is expected in Seville across Friday and into matchday, while fan zones with giant screens will be set up in San Sebastián and in more than a dozen towns across Gipuzkoa.

Source: AS