High-risk Athletic v Sporting tie as La Ertzaintza on alert for 1,500 ticketless fans | OneFootball

The National Anti-Violence Commission has designated tonight’s Champions League tie between Athletic and Sporting high risk, with La Ertzaintza on alert in Bilbao.

According to El Correo, police in Portugal have told their Basque counterparts that 1,500 ticketless Sporting supporters are travelling, triggering a special operation to prevent clashes with local ultras.

Sporting will have no official away support at San Mamés after a UEFA sanction for objects, flares and other pyrotechnics thrown onto the pitch during their 3-1 game at Bayern Munich. Many had already booked travel before UEFA’s December decision, which followed repeated pyrotechnic use.

Security councillor Bingen Zupiria acknowledged the arrival of Portuguese fans and drew a distinction between ordinary supporters and those whose behaviour could be illegal or improper. A significant deployment of La Ertzaintza is planned to avoid incidents around the match.

Around 2,500 seats in the Sur Alta section beside the away end were offered only to home fans. Athletic has warned that any Portuguese buying in home areas will be refused entry, with those detected inside La Catedral facing expulsion and no access to the stadium’s security perimeter.

Sporting has advised its followers to gather in Plaza Nueva, noting the area’s bars and restaurants and that safety measures are in place to ensure a calm experience.

Source: El Correo