Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad (LaLiga MD29)

After last Saturday's convincing victory over RCD Espanyol in Barcelona, Athletic Club have 10 massive games left to achieve the goal they set themselves at the beginning of the season - return to European competition.

To do so, Los Leones need to string together a run of results and keep climbing up the table. This weekend San Mames hosts one of the first matches Athleticzales look for when the fixtures are released - The Basque Derby, Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad at The Cathedral.

The two teams are coming into this game on the back of wins. The encounter is expected to be intense with both sides wanting to make sure their respective fans go home with the bragging rights. Everything points towards it being an exciting match and a special day in Bilbao.

Match Info
Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad (Matchday 29)

San Mames (Bilbao)

LaLiga Santander 22/23

Saturday April 15, 16:15 CEST

How to Watch
Wherever you are in the world, check out our global TV guide to make sure you don't miss the Basque Derby

Team News
Valverde has named a 23-man squad for the clash

Iñigo Lekue and Jon Morcillo are the only major absences, with both players out injured.

Valverde's Comments
Catch up with everything the gaffer had to say ahead of the Basque Derby in Bilbao

🗣️ Ernesto Valverde on #AthleticRealSociedad

⚔️ "This is a rivalry. It's not like other matches. There's an emotional component we have to manage on the pitch."

✊ "We want to make up for the loss in the reverse fixture with a win here at San Mames."#AthleticClub 🦁

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) April 14, 2023

The Opponents

Head coach: Imanol Alguacil

The Gipuzkoa-born tactician has led la Real's first team since taking over Asier Garitano in December 2018. Before that Alguacil he had been the Real Sociedad B team coach since November 2014, a brief stint as the senior side's caretaker boss in 2018 aside.

A full-back as a player, Imanol came up through the ranks at Donostia-based outfit, going on to make over 100 appearances for the first team in an eight-year spell. After leaving la Real, he played for Villarreal, Jaén, Cartagena and Burgos.

Top goalscorer: Alexander Sorloth

Hailing from Norway, the tall, powerful striker is in his second season on loan at the Txuri-urdin. Born in Trondheim, Sorloth got his start at local club Rosenborg. After a successful loan spell at Bodo/Glimt, he signed for Dutch side Gronigen in the 2016/17 campaign. From there he has gone on to gain experience in leagues all over Europe.

First he moved from Gronigen to FC Midtjylland in Denmark, before making a switch to Crystal Palace, where he was loaned out to Belgian club Gent and then Turkish Super Lig outfit Trabzponsor. Twenty-four goals in 34 appearances in Turkey saw Sorloth snapped up by RB Leipzig, but after one season in the Bundesliga he was sent on loan to Real Sociedad.

Recent form (LaLiga): DDWLW

La Real have spent most of the campaign in the Champions League spots, only recently relinquishing third place to a resurgent Atlético Madrid. Currently Real Sociedad are fourth with 51 points, but with Villarreal, on 47 points, creeping up behind them to challenge for fourth, Algualcil's men will be keen to keep the Yellow Submarine at bay.

In their last outing, la Real beat Getafe 2-0 at home, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Take Kubo getting on the scoresheet.

Previous Meetings
Since their first LaLiga meeting, back in the 1928/29 season, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad have played each other a total of 151 times in the top flight, with the Zurigorri registering 60 wins, 39 draws and 52 losses.

As for the derbies played at San Mamés, Athletic Club have racked up 40 wins, 20 draws and 15 defeats in 75 league matches.

The last five clashes in Bilbao reflect the evenly-matched nature of the rivalry. There have been two wins apiece and one draw.

Last season's Basque Derby in Bilbao saw Athletic Club put la Real to the sword with a whirlwind final 20 minutes in which Dani Vivian, Oihan Sancet, Iñaki Williams and Iker Muniain all found the back of the net.

Pre-match tribute to Basque musician
Just before kick-off, the San Mames faithful will pay tribute to Sabin López de Guereño, the musician who wrote the beloved Basque song "Ikusi Mendizaleak". From the centre circle, Sabin will lead the stadium in a rendition of the tune. For this reason, all those attending the fixture are asked to arrive ahead of time so they can sing along with Sabin.

Find out more Sabin, what inspired him to write the song and why it is so popular in The Basque Country.