(Moved; Better on a separate thread)
Athletic Bilbao won the first competition in 1903. They only had to play against two other teams, Espanyol and Madrid. The following year, they won again, but without playing a game!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1904_Copa_del_Rey
In 1905, Bilbao lost to Madrid in the group stage. Title passes to Madrid who retained it in 1906. The following year (though eventually retaining the trophy) they lost in the group stage to Club Bizcaya, a representative team which only played in the Copa del Rey in 1902 and 1907. This would have caused a problem for this thread-within-a-thread had not they succumbed 2-1 to Vigo three days later. In 1908, Vigo were beaten in the final (and only match) by Madrid. But the latter didn't participate in 2009. Do they keep the unofficial trophy?
In 1910 there were two rival competitions. In one of them, Athletic Bilbao beat Madrid in the three-team group stage (there's no final, rather like in the 1950 World Cup). A day later, the trophy is kept with a 1-0 victory against Vasconia (later renamed Real Sociedad). In 1911, they won all of their games, but in 1912 they withdrew before the tournament began. Do we allow them to keep the unofficial trophy? If so, then they lost it in 1913 to Racing de Irun (1-0 in the final). Cleverly for the latter, they didn't participate again until 1918, when they lifted the trophy before once again missing out in 1919 before losing their title to Barcelona in 1920. The following year, Barcelona refused to play against Athletic [sic] Madrid due to the final having been moved to Sevilla.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1921_Copa_del_Rey
If we throw Barcelona out as unofficial champions, then the title passes first to Athletic Madrid and then to back once again to Athletic Bilbao who won the final. IIf Barcelona are retrieved, they retain their trophy in 1922.
Sorry, I must be boring you stupid!
Athletic Bilbao won the first competition in 1903. They only had to play against two other teams, Espanyol and Madrid. The following year, they won again, but without playing a game!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1904_Copa_del_Rey
In 1905, Bilbao lost to Madrid in the group stage. Title passes to Madrid who retained it in 1906. The following year (though eventually retaining the trophy) they lost in the group stage to Club Bizcaya, a representative team which only played in the Copa del Rey in 1902 and 1907. This would have caused a problem for this thread-within-a-thread had not they succumbed 2-1 to Vigo three days later. In 1908, Vigo were beaten in the final (and only match) by Madrid. But the latter didn't participate in 2009. Do they keep the unofficial trophy?
In 1910 there were two rival competitions. In one of them, Athletic Bilbao beat Madrid in the three-team group stage (there's no final, rather like in the 1950 World Cup). A day later, the trophy is kept with a 1-0 victory against Vasconia (later renamed Real Sociedad). In 1911, they won all of their games, but in 1912 they withdrew before the tournament began. Do we allow them to keep the unofficial trophy? If so, then they lost it in 1913 to Racing de Irun (1-0 in the final). Cleverly for the latter, they didn't participate again until 1918, when they lifted the trophy before once again missing out in 1919 before losing their title to Barcelona in 1920. The following year, Barcelona refused to play against Athletic [sic] Madrid due to the final having been moved to Sevilla.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1921_Copa_del_Rey
If we throw Barcelona out as unofficial champions, then the title passes first to Athletic Madrid and then to back once again to Athletic Bilbao who won the final. IIf Barcelona are retrieved, they retain their trophy in 1922.
Sorry, I must be boring you stupid!
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