Athletic Club - Real Sociedad

Athletic Club drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad in Sunday's Basque Derby at San Mamés. The Lions rescued a point from a tough match courtesy of a superb Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta strike.

The Eibar-born player staved off defeat with a beautiful shot in the 88th minute. It came as the Lions were throwing the kitchen sink at la Real after Brais Méndez receieved a straight red card.

It's point which almost feels like a victory for Athletic as Real Sociedad practically had the game in the bag.

A great Unai Simón performance stopped the Donostia side running away with the game. The goalkeeper his mark early on to deny Pablo Marín.

Jesus Areso was also crucial as threw his body on the line in front of Mikel Oyarzabal to stop the forward from scoring in the opening stages.

Athletic had problems defending set pieces. Simón stopped a Jon Martín header from a corner and then made a great save to stop a Guedes header from a free-kick.

However, the Zurigorri no.1 couldn't get a hand to the Portuguese player's powerful shot from outside the area, as la Real caught Athletic off guard with a short corner.

The Lions had only made their presence felt once. Alejandro Rego stole the ball high up the pitch but Gorka Guruzeta failed to finish off the counter-attack.

Ernesto Valverde immediately brought on Ruiz Galarreta and the midfielder changed the face of game.

Aitor Paredes threatened with a fierce effort that went narrowly wide and Oyarzabal missed a sitter that could've made it 0-2 after a great move in the box.

Real Sociedad sat back, looking for the knockout blow on the counter-attack. And they collapsed after Brais' dismissal, which came shortly after the referee had spared Igor Zubeldia a second yellow card for a handball similar to the one that had earned Areso a yellow card earlier.

Urko Izeta sent a shot narrowly wide and then Galarreta turned San Mamés upside down in the 88th minute.

Athletic went close to getting a late winner but Alex Remiro got a hand to another long-range effort from Paredes.

There wasn't enough time left for a comeback, but a draw is a good result given how the match went.

Now it's time to prepare for Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-finals in Valencia and a must-win game against Levante UD at San Mames on Sunday.