The last final before the wall fell | OneFootball

The 1988 Copa del Rey final at the Bernabéu was a watershed for Real Sociedad, a 1-0 defeat by Barcelona that triggered changes shaping the club.

According to Diario Vasco, about 5,000 Barça fans were chased by police at one end while more than 30,000 confident Real fans filled the other.

Real arrived as holders after eliminating Atlético and Real Madrid. Barcelona, led by Luis Aragonés, were struggling, with Josep Lluís Núñez putting the squad up for sale and the Hesperia mutiny still ahead.

With Arconada plus Zamora, Bakero and Begiristain behind Loren, many expected a second straight Cup. Alexanko’s winner delivered a chastening defeat.

The shock became a catalyst. Barcelona set aside 600 million pesetas for Bakero and Begiristain, signed López Rekarte on a free, and although Real finished Liga runners-up, the trio left for Camp Nou that summer.

A year on, Loren joined Athletic for 300 million, prompting the 1989 arrival of John Aldridge, the club’s first modern-era foreigner. Alkiza had already appointed Toshack to replace Alberto Ormaetxea, and the club then invented release clauses. Five years later came Bosman.

The move from Atotxa to Anoeta followed. Early imports thrived and later fluctuated, and the stadium switch took 25 years to absorb, with a return to Primera in 2010 starting today’s upswing.

The night’s coda was ugly. After the trophy ceremony and the king’s exit, police switched ends and charged the Real section, with mounted units outside as supporters ran for cover.

Source: Diario Vasco