Match Pack: Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club (LaLiga MD12)
Match Pack: Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club (LaLiga MD12)
All the pre-match facts and stats you need ahead of Sunday night’s Basque derby
The first Basque Derby of the 2021-21 season. On Sunday, Athletic Club will make the hour-long trip across the Basque Country to San Sebastian, where they’ll take on Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena.
Basque football fans should be in for a treat, as both sides are in fine form at the moment. Real Sociedad have only suffered one defeat so far this season, an opening-day loss to FC Barcelona, while Athletic have also only tasted defeat on one occasion.
The Lions are unbeaten in their last four LaLiga fixtures, and with a game in hand on many of the teams above them, they will be desperate to pick up three points and move into the European qualification places.
Match info
Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club (Matchday 11)
Reale Arena (Donostia)
LaLiga Santander 2021-22
Sunday October 31, 21:00 CET
How to watch
We’ve put all the global kick-off times and LaLiga TV operators in one place to help you catch the Derby from wherever you are in the world.
Team news
Marcelino’s comments
Marcelino stressed that he is happy with how the season has gone so far and is optimistic the Lions will keep improving throughout the campaign.
He also urged his players to “manage the Derby well” in terms of the emotional aspect. Catch the rest of his pre-match press conference here.
The opponents
League position: 1st
Form over the last five LaLiga matches: WDWDW
Last match: 0-2 vs RC Celta (A)
Head coach: Imanol Alguacil
Gipuzkoa-born, former Real Sociedad player, Imanol Alguacil officially took over the top spot at Anoeta during the 2018-19 season. Since Alguacil was appointed, la Real have finished ninth (18-19), seventh (19-20) and fifth (20-21) in LaLiga.
Star man: David Silva
Widely recognised as one of the best midfielders of his generation, David Silva spent the majority of his career with Premier League side Manchester City, winning four league titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups during a 10-season spell with the English club.
Silva has turned out for la Real 27 times in LaLiga since joining before the 2020-21 campaign.
Previous meetings
The Basque Derby in LaLiga stretches all the way back to the founding season in 1929. Athletic have visited San Sebastian a total of 74 times for league matches.
Last season, just three days after the Copa del Rey final, the Lions drew 1-1 at Anoeta. Asier Villalibre gave Athletic the Bilbao-based side the lead with five minutes to go, but Roberto López found an equaliser in the 89th minute.
Athletic’s last LaLiga win at Anoeta came in the 2016-17 campaign. A Raúl García penalty and a goal from Iñaki Williams saw Athletic win 0-2 and take home all three points.