The 38th matchday of LALIGA EA Sports concluded with an exciting encounter between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona at San Mamés, where, despite not being at stake in terms of standings, the atmosphere was charged with emotions and tensions. The match was not only a tribute to Óscar de Marcos, who retired from professional football, but also marked by controversy in the stands.
From the FC Barcelona hierarchy, executive Enric Masip did not hesitate to express his dissatisfaction after the match. In an interview on 'La Posesión' from Sport, Masip stated: "I don't know what the Bilbao crowd has against Barça, because there has been tremendous animosity since the Iniesta era." This statement reflects the tension that has existed between both clubs in recent years, especially after last year's ticket incident.
The Barça executive also emphasized the respect that FC Barcelona showed towards Athletic, standing up during the local club's anthem and forming a guard of honor for De Marcos, a gesture that, according to him, was not reciprocated by the fans or the Athletic leadership. "The hostility was evident from the very first moment," Masip added, expressing disappointment over the lack of congratulations from Athletic president Jon Uriarte after Barça's league triumph.
Moreover, the match was marked by offensive chants directed at FC Barcelona and its president, Joan Laporta, which were reported by LALIGA. Among the most notable were phrases like "puta Barça" and "being a Barça fan is being a subnormal," which echoed several times during the match. These chants, which have been recurrent in other stadiums, highlight the animosity that persists between the fans of both teams.
The atmosphere at San Mamés, although festive due to De Marcos' farewell, turned tense due to the lack of respect towards the Catalan club. Masip concluded his remarks by stating that "everyone reflects what they are through their actions," making it clear that the rivalry between both teams remains intense and, at times, unsportsmanlike.
Thus, FC Barcelona bids farewell to the season with a bittersweet taste, not only due to the match result but also because of the tensions that still linger in Spanish football. The next season promises more emotions and, undoubtedly, more clashes filled with history and rivalry.