When reaching Ceuta took five days | OneFootball

For Real Sociedad, reaching Ceuta once meant a five day slog, a stark contrast to the charter six years ago, kick-off at four pm and home in San Sebastián by 11 pm.

According to Diario Vasco, the 1964 first round paired Segunda rivals and included a Pizjuán friendly as Sevilla’s sparring. Captain José Mari Martínez recalled a Thursday start, 12 coach hours to Mérida, then Seville, Algeciras and the ferry, a night in Ceuta, then straight back for the only ferry and two more days to Donostia.

The first leg was at the Alfonso Murube, then a gravel pitch, which Carmelo Amas said posed no surprise given their training on dirt at Herrera and under a stand at Atocha.

Real lost 3-2 but felt the margin was recoverable. The report praised their direct, first time passing and Amas on the break. Martínez faced José and Eduardo Ayala, one brother delivering two assists, the other opened, with Seisdedos also on the scoresheet.

It was 3-1 until Ezeiza struck from an Amas-led counter, a moment Amas felt mattered amid a noisy crowd. Back home, Martínez expected a comeback, delivered with 4-0 in Atocha’s mud as Ceuta’s rubber studs offered no grip.

After a pause until late April, Real won 1-2 at Betis, then ousted Osasuna and Sporting before meeting Atlético, eventual Cup winners. They trailed 2-1 at half-time in Madrid and lost 8-1, then drew 3-3 in Donostia with an Urreisti hat-trick, a run that preceded promotion in Puertollano three years later.

Source: Diario Vasco