Athletic’s captain sought out goalkeeper after late equaliser in a gesture that symbolised why this rivalry is like no other
When the final whistle went at the end of the Basque derby, Iker Muniain embraced the referee and then made his way through the noise and the rain straight to Alex Remiro. By the time he got there, Iñaki Williams was already hugging the goalkeeper and soon more Athletic players came to comfort him. The clock had shown 90.47 when Remiro made the mistake that cost his team victory and there was little consolation, just a lost expression, but that didn’t stop them trying. “I tried to raise his spirits, give him affection, tell him it it’s OK, it doesn’t matter,” Muniain said, standing pitchside still catching his breath.
Muniain and Alex Remiro are not teammates, not any more. Remiro is the Real Sociedad goalkeeper, Muniain the Athletic captain whose shot had just raced past him and into the net to make it 1-1 at the end of a wet, wild night. And if anyone knew it did matter, this Sunday especially, it was them. Which is why they were there together when it was over, Muniain laying a hand upon Remiro’s shoulder and looking for the right words. A goalkeeper who admits bad moments always follow you home, Remiro’s look meanwhile revealed this one will follow him further than that. The first league goal Real had conceded at home this season could hardly have come at a worse time.