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Athletic v Atlético: classic meetings

Ahead of the UEFA Europa League final between Athletic Club and Club Atlético de Madrid, UEFA.com looks at five of the greatest games between them dating back to their first, in 1921.

Atlético and Athletic first encountered each other in 1921
Atlético and Athletic first encountered each other in 1921 ©Getty Images

8 May 1921: Copa del Rey final, Athletic Club 4-1 Club Atlético de Madrid
Already seven-time winners of the Copa del Rey, Athletic played host to Atlético for the first and only Spanish Cup final to be staged at San Mamés. As the visiting club had been formed by a group of Basque students in the early 1900s, the showpiece was labelled as a final 'between brothers' and is now notable for local legend Rafael 'Pichichi' Moreno's last appearance for Los Leones before his death from typhus the following year.

Atlético midfielder Ramón 'Monchín' Triana cancelled out José María Laca's opening goal but a second-half penalty from Acedo put the hosts back in front, before both he and Laca scored again to the delight of the majority of the 15,000 crowd.

23 March 1930: Liga, Atlético 3-4 Athletic
The club from the capital suffered again when the teams met at the old Estadio Metropolitano in the penultimate round of matches in the Liga's second season. Needing to win to avoid a final-day relegation fight, the hosts took a 3-1 first-half lead thanks to Ciriaco Cuesta's double and another from José Luis Costa.

Chants of "Tame Lions" from the home fans infuriated Athletic captain Juan Garizurieta, who demanded a response from his side, already crowned league champions. Guillermo Gorostiza (2) and José Iraragorri produced the goals that led to Garizurieta storming past local reporters at the end of the match uttering the words, "tame lions?" Atlético were subsequently relegated.

24 June 1956: Copa del Rey final, Athletic 2-1 Atlético
Athletic's 20th triumph in Spanish club football's oldest competition came after a tense opening to the final. The Basque outfit had eliminated Real Madrid CF in the tournament's last four but they ceded advantage to Atlético in the showpiece, with midfielder Francisco Molina putting his team in front midway through the first half. Long-serving striker José Artetxe equalised before the break and José María Magurego struck the winner 20 minutes from the end, which led to captain Agustín Gaínza – Copa in hand – being carried shoulder high around the Santiago Bernabéu.

30 June 1985: Copa del Rey final, Atlético 2-1 Athletic
Liga and Copa del Rey double winners the season before, Los Leones reached the final held at the Santiago Bernabéu for the second successive year but Javier Clemente's side were to be denied by a double strike from Hugo Sánchez. The Mexican international – who moved to Real Madrid following this win – opened the scoring with a 25th-minute penalty after Ismael Urtubi handled. Sánchez fired in a fine second from the edge of the area after the restart and Julio Salinas's flicked finish 15 minutes from time was not enough to deny Luis Aragonés's men the trophy.

5 February 1992: Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg, Athletic 0-3 Atlético
This season is remembered among fans of Los Colchoneros for their 2-0 Copa del Rey final win against rivals Real Madrid but en route they achieved an impressive quarter-final triumph against Athletic, with attacker Paulo Futre producing a stunning individual display in the first leg to put his team in command of the tie. Manolo converted the first goal from a penalty after Futre had been fouled and the No10 then showed pace, strength and impeccable control to score the second. A spectacular left-footed strike by the Portuguese from inside the 'D' sealed the win at San Mamés. Futre also found the net in Atlético's final victory.