Outside of Barça, is there any team are you fond of or respect and why?

For me, it's La Real Sociedad.

I've always liked clubs that feel "authentic", and La Real really gives me that feeling. Their connection to San Sebastián and the emphasis on developing players through their own system (Zubieta) makes them stand out in a league where a lot of teams lean heavily on big spending. While perhaps not to the degree, I see some similarities to La Masia in Barça.

They also tend to play really enjoyable football; technical, fluid, and not overly cynical which makes them easy to watch even when you don't have a stake in the result. On top of that, they kind of feel like the underdogs of the Basque Country, operating with fewer resources than their direct rivals, Athletic Club Bilbao, and still competing at a high level. That dynamic, especially with the history of Bilbao poaching key players (Iñigo Martínez says hi) makes it easier to root for them. I see them as a respectable team that focuses on their playing while being respectful of their rivals.

Also, beating Atlético de Madrid in a Copa del Rey final? Yeah… that doesn't hurt either, Gora Euskadi 🙂

I'm curious to know if other people also have teams they have some fondness of or respect and what made you like them?