Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad predictions, H2H and match preview for this Friday’s big Basque derby in La Liga. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as these two iconic clubs lock horns again.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad Preview
The so-called ‘friendly’ derby takes place in the Basque Country this Friday. Unlike other local rivalries, these two sets of supporters get along famously well with a shared Basque pride the overriding emotion on nights like this. However the action on the pitch is normally as frenetic as any derby and there may be a bit more needle to this game than in previous seasons following comments from Athletic’s Inaki Williams this week.
His suggestion that Athletic have more ‘home’ players than La Real may have struck a nerve in the Sociedad camp. It is though the visitors who have enjoyed the better of things in this fixture in recent years and they completed a rare league double over Athletic in 2018/19. They head into this game on a high too following Martin Odegaard’s late winner at Mallorca last weekend.
Both sides have 4 points on the board and that’s an excellent return for Athletic from opening games at home to Barcelona and away to Getafe. Gaizka Garitano’s side will also take confidence from their excellent home record which now stands at 15 unbeaten league games at San Mames. Their last home defeat in La Liga came in this very fixture last October.
Sociedad will be hoping to celebrate another derby victory on this ground but they will be aware that it will be tougher this season. Athletic are much more solid defensively now than they were twelve months ago. It’ll be interesting to see how Imanol approaches this one and whether or not he’s willing to be bold and try to take the game to Athletic with some exciting young attacking talents in the visiting ranks.
Check out our 2019/20 season previews for both teams – Athletic | Sociedad
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad Predictions
Score Prediction: 1-1 Draw
This is likely to be a typical derby, played at a high tempo and the 10:00 p.m. kick-off time should aid that at a time of year when the heat is a real factor in some La Liga matches. Athletic will be gunning for revenge after two defeats to Sociedad last term but the visitors have more goal threats in their team and look capable of leaving with a result again.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad H2H
- Last 6 competitive meetings: 2 Athletic Wins, 3 Sociedad Wins, 1 Draw.
- Sociedad were 3-1 winners here last season with Mikel Oyarzabal converting two penalties and have only lost on 1 of their last 5 trips to San Mames.
- La Real completed the derby double by winning 2-1 in the clash at Anoeta last term.
- Athletic’s last competitive victory over Sociedad came via a 2-0 win in San Sebastian in March 2017.
Check out all our La Liga previews and predictions.
Predicted Line Ups
Athletic Team:
Simon – Capa, Martinez, Yeray, Yuri – Lopez, Dani Garcia – Muniain, Raul Garcia, Cordoba – Williams (4-2-3-1)
Real Sociedad Team:
Moya – Munoz, Zubeldia, Sagnan, Zaldua – Merino, Illarramendi, Odegaard – Oyarzabal, Jose, Januzaj (4-3-3)
absolutely beautiful derby….been follwoing this page for a while now…but i think the content are not enough …hope some day you make youtube video documents about spanish football