Match Pack: Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club (LaLiga MD17)

The Basque Derby is always a special match, one of the first fans look for when the fixture schedule is released. Both teams go into the clash in good shape, with their European ambitions very much alive and kicking - a factor which should only heighten the intensity on Saturday night.

Real Sociedad are currently third in LaLiga Santander with 32 points, while Athletic are seventh with 26 points, one place and one point off the final European spot.

After last week's draw with CA Osasuna, Los Leones will be gunning for a victory in this second consecutive derby fixture. What's more, it's a match which could see Iker Muniain become Athletic's third most capped player ever, meaning only Jose Angel Iribar (614) and Txetxu Rojo (541) would be ahead of him in the rankings.

Match Info
Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club (Matchday 17)

Reale Arena (Donostia-San Sebastian)

LaLiga Santander 22/23

Saturday January 14, 21:00 CET

How to Watch
Don't miss out! Use our tailormade list of kick-off times and global TV channels to watch the Basque Derby from wherever you are in the world.

London Watch Party
LaLigaTV have arranged a special screening of the match at Marylebone's Sports Bar & Grill. If you're based in the city, this is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded Athleticzales in England.

Tickets cost £3.25 and include a San Miguel beer upon entry. There will also be fun games and giveaways, with a special prize for those who turn up wearing their club's jersey.

Click here or on the image below for more information.

Team News
Valverde has named a 24-man squad for the clash. The only major absence is Iñigo Martínez, who remains sidelined with a heel injury.

Valverde's Comments
Catch up with everything the Gaffer had to say at his pre-match press conference.

The Opponents

Head coach: Imanol Alguacil

A right-back in his playing days, Alguacil came up through the ranks at Real Sociedad's academy before making his first-team debut in September 1990. He went on to make a total of 113 league appearances for the club over the following eight years. He left for Villarreal in 1998, before seeing out his career with one-season stints at Real Jaén, FC Cartagena and Burgos CF.

His entire coaching career has been spent at la Real. Imanol joined as an academy coach in 2011 and took over the B team in 2014. He became caretaker manager of the first team in March 2018 when Eusebio Sacristán was dismissed, leading the side for the remainder of the 2017/18.

With the appointment of Asier Garitano the following season, Imanol stepped back down to B team manager, but was once again named interim manager in December 2018, later being given the permanent position.

Top scorer: Brais Méndez

Hailing from the province of Galicia, attacking midfielder Brais Méndez made his first-team debut for local club Celta Vigo in 2017. Across five seasons, he scored 22 goals in 166 senior appearances for the Galicians.

Méndez joined la Real ahead of the current season and so far he has hit the back of the net 10 times in 24 matches - seven of those strikes coming from 15 games in LaLiga. 

Recent form (LaLiga): LDWWW

La Real are in a rich vein of form, having collected 10 points from a possible 15 in their last five LaLiga Santander fixtures. In their most recent outing, they beat Almería 0-2 away from home, with David Silva and Alexander Sorloth getting on the scoresheet.

Previous Meetings
The sides' first LaLiga clash dates back to the opening weekend of the competition's inaugural year, a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad's old Atotxa stadium in 1929. Since then, there have been a further 149 league meetings between the Basque clubs. Athletic have won 60 matches, drawn 39 and lost 51.

As for matches played in San Sebastian, Los Leones have managed 20 wins, 19 draws and 36 losses.

Los Rojiblancos have struggled on their recent trips across The Basque Country to Donostia, drawing twice and losing three from their last five matches at the Reale Arena. The Lions' last win in Donostia came in the 2016/17 campaign, Raúl García scoring a first-half penalty and Iñaki Williams sealing the three points with a smart finish on 56 minutes.

Last year, the Zurigorri escaped Donostia with hard-fought point thanks to Iker Muniain's stoppage-time goal from a free-kick.