Real Madrid has lifted the Champions League trophy fourteen times and the PNV has already won thirteen times in Euskadi. Neither one nor the other can ever be considered dead, because they always resurrect at the last moment. And there is still a third factor that characterizes them: in both cases the institution rules above its figures. So, when they consider that the star of the team needs to be changed, whether he is called Ronaldo or Urkullu, it is done and no one jokes. Its presidents, Florentino Pérez or Andoni Ortuzar, are more than the club or the party.
On Sunday, almost at the same time, Madrid won in added time against Barça and the PNV did the same against Bildu. They couldn’t have been more tied, but in the end, even though their rivals played their cards like never before, they lost as always.
The Basque nationalists changed their president in Ajuria Enea, even though they had won with him three times, but they thought that the leadership had to be renewed, with a younger candidate without a tie. The Madridistas decided to get rid of Benzema, despite being their goal man, the number 9 that connected all the balls that reached the rival area, to sign Bellingham, who was not even a striker, to score their goals.
Without looking for paranormal reasons, there are two things that characterize Madrid and the PNV: there is one in charge who no one questions, but also, both the Madridistas and the Basque nationalists have known how to create an epic story that makes them stronger against their rivals. Another thing is that some are devoted to Juanito and others to Saint Ignatius. Faith goes by neighborhood.
The Basques in Madrid have always ruled. In governments, in large companies and in banks. They speak the best Spanish, they are reliable and do not feel like they are in a foreign land, unlike the Catalans who, when they go to the capital, do not finish unpacking their suitcase and feel homesick for the Mediterranean. But Barça and Catalanism should learn to survive, without needing to ask for two season tickets for the Bernabéu box. And don’t lower your arms when at the last moment they try to score a goal, although not even Athletic has achieved that yet.
