The latest instalment of the Basque derby will take place at San Mames on Sunday night, with Athletic Bilbao welcoming rivals Real Sociedad for what should be a highly-charged affair.
Athletic have picked up 20 points from their opening 13 matches to sit sixth in the La Liga table, while Real Sociedad are eighth, boasting 18 points from their first 13 games of the 2024-25 campaign.
Match preview
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Athletic will bring a six-game unbeaten run into this contest, but they have drawn each of their last three in the league against Mallorca, Real Betis and Real Valladolid, with their last La Liga success proving to be against Espanyol on October 19.
The Lions will therefore be going in search of their first victory in Spain's top flight in over a month when they welcome Real Sociedad, but Ernesto Valverde's side have won twice in the Europa League since then, overcoming Slavia Prague and Ludogorets, and they currently sit sixth in the overall a href="/football/europa-league/groups.html">Europa League table.
Athletic are sixth in La Liga, meanwhile, boasting a record of five wins, five draws and three defeats from their 13 matches to collect 20 points, which has left them only four points behind fourth-placed Villarreal.
The Basque team have collected 12 points from their seven home league matches this season, but they will be welcoming a Real Sociedad outfit that have the fourth-best away record in the division, picking up 11 points from six matches.
Athletic recorded a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in the corresponding match during the 2023-24 campaign, and they have not lost at home to their Basque rivals in Spain's top flight since December 2020.
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It has not quite been the start to the season that Real Sociedad would have been expecting, but La Real are an improving outfit, and they entered the November international break off the back of a gigantic win.
Indeed, Sheraldo Becker's 33rd-minute goal handed them a 1-0 success over La Liga leaders Barcelona, with the result moving them into eighth spot in the table, boasting 18 points from their first 13 matches.
Imanol Alguacil's side are now only two points behind sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao and are very much in the mix for the European spots, while their defensive record this term has been impressive, conceding just 10 times in their 11 league matches, with only Atletico Madrid (seven) letting in fewer at this stage of the season.
Real Sociedad were also in action in the Copa del Rey on Thursday evening, recording a 5-0 victory over Jove Espanol to breeze into the second round of the competition.
La Real have now been victorious in three of their last four matches in all competitions, and they have two huge home fixtures after the Basque derby, hosting Ajax in the Europa League and Real Betis in La Liga.
Team News
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Athletic have been handed a huge boost ahead of this match, with their number one goalkeeper Unai Simon confirming that he is now available for selection.
Simon underwent a wrist operation after representing Spain at Euro 2024, but he has now recovered, and the 27-year-old is expected to start between the sticks this weekend.
Inaki Williams and Oihan Sancet should also be available after missing the clash with Real Valladolid before the international break, with Athletic potentially having a fully-fit squad for the first time this season.
As for Real Sociedad, Igor Zubeldia and Orri Oskarsson remain doubts this weekend, while Martin Zubimendi and Hamari Traore have both been ruled out of the Basque derby.
Zubimendi's absence is a huge one for the visitors, with the midfielder picking up a muscular problem while representing Spain during the November international break.
Sergio Gomez, who scored in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, is expected to be introduced into the XI as Zubimendi's replacement, but providing that Zubeldia passes a late fitness test, that may be the only change to the side that started against Barcelona.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Boiro; Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Kubo, Mendez, S Gomez, Sucic, Becker; Oyarzabal
We say: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Real Sociedad
There has not actually been a La Liga draw between these two sides since October 2021, with the last five meetings in Spain's top flight producing a winner; we are finding it difficult to back either with any real confidence here, though, and the points may ultimately be shared in a low-scoring draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
