Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad (LaLiga MD22)
Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad (LaLiga MD22)
The 2025/26 LaLiga Basque Derby has arrived to Bilbao. Here's everything you need to know before Sunday's clash between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad
One of the most anticipated fixtures of the season, Athletic Club are set to host Donostia's Real Sociedad in this season's LaLiga Basque Derby at San Mames.
The Lions narrowly lost the reverse fixture at Anoeta and will be desperate to regain the Basque bragging rights. What's more, the match sees Athletic return to Bilbao for a LaLiga match for the first time since December.
With three of our next four games at The Cathedral, Ernesto Valverde's side will be looking to build some positive momentum and win some crucial points, starting with the derby.
Match Info
Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad
San Mames, Bilbao
LaLiga EA Sports 25/26 (Matchday 22)
Sunday February 1, 21:00 CET
Tickets can be purchased via this link.
Team News
Ernesto Valverde has named a 22-man squad for Sunday's clash in Bilbao.
Maroan, Beñat Prados, Aymeric Laporte, Dani Vivian and Oihan Sancet are out injured.
Centre-back Iker Monreal has been called up from Bilbao Athletic as cover.
Valverde's Comments
Ernesto said his players "need to be ready to give it their all in every moment" if they want to win all three points.
Catch up with everything the gaffer had to say at his pre-match press conference.
✊ "In these matches you have to be ready to give it your all in every moment."
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) January 31, 2026
⚔️ "Derbies are what they are. This is just another one, but it's very important."
🎙️ Ernesto Valverde previews tomorrow's #AthleticRealSociedad#AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/oVkBHPPs4C
The Opponents
Check out all our previous matches against Real Sociedad.
Head coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo
The recently-appointed American tactician took over from caretaker coach Ion Ansotegi during the Christmas break.
La Real have benefitted from a new-manager bounce since Matarazzo came in, drawing one and winning three of their four matches under him.
Pellegrino spent his playing days in the US university system and the German lower leagues. His previous managerial roles were at VfB Stuttgart and TSG Hoffenheim.
Top goalscorer: Mikel Oyarzabal
The Real Sociedad captain has scored eight goals in 18 LaLiga appearances so far this season. In 2024/25, he got nine goals in 35 matches.
Recent form: DDWWW
After a shaky start to the season, la Real have started the new year in much better form. They are unbeaten in their last five fixtures and their most recent outing was a 3-1 home win against Celta Vigo.
Previous Meetings
Athletic have faced Real Sociedad a total of 157 times in LaLiga, with the first fixture taking place in the inaugural 1929 season.
This will be our 79th top-flight meeting at The Cathedral. Our home record against la Real stands at 43 wins, 20 draws and 15 losses.
We've won four and lost just one of our last five matches against Real Sociedad in Bilbao.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Athletic register a 1-0 victory thanks to an Oihan Sancet strike in the first half.
How to Watch
Check out our global TV guide to make sure you don't miss the match.
You can also follow the fixture, and keep up to date with everything Athletic related, through the official Athletic Club app, as well as on our website and social media accounts:
Basque: @Athletic_eus
English: @Athletic_en
Spanish: @AthleticClub
www.facebook.com/ATHLETICCLUB/ (Spanish + Basque)
@athleticclub (Spanish + Basque)
Website
Basque: www.athletic-club.eus/eu/
English: www.athletic-club.eus/en/
Spanish: www.athletic-club.eus/
Related match
Athletic Club - Real Sociedad
