Fans to return for Bilbao’s Copa Del Rey finals against Sociedad and Barcelona

Supporters will be able to attend the rescheduled Spain’s Copa del Rey final next month between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao, radio station Cadena Ser reported on Wednesday.

The report said Seville’s La Cartuja stadium, which holds 60,000 spectators, about 15,000 spectators will be at between 20% and 25% capacity for last season’s rescheduled final on April 3 and this season’s showpiece between Barcelona and Athletic on April 17.

The Spanish soccer federation declined to comment on the report but said it was holding a meeting with Athletic and Sociedad on Thursday to make arrangements for the final, with the prospect of fan attendance to be discussed.

Spectators have been barred from elite Spanish soccer matches since March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to Athletic and Sociedad agreeing to postpone last season’s final by a year so fans could attend.

The two Basque sides have never before met in a Copa del Rey final and even agreed to surrender potential qualification for this season’s Europa League so that the match could be played in front of their fans a year later.

Reuters

Cover Image; Estadio de La Cartuja Seville, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)