Battle of Basque: Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club preview
LALIGA is known for its thrilling rivalries. An intense and highly-watched match-up in the league is Athletic Club and Real Sociedad—also called the Basque derby.
Both teams face each other on 24 November, 2024 for the first time in the 2024/25 LALIGA campaign. These heavy hitters remain at the top 10 in the current standings, but the race for a Champions League spot is starting to heat up with plenty of clubs competing at the highest level.
Athletic Club is high up in the standings, and their possible win in this derby might kick off their path to the Champions League. Can Real Sociedad block the way? Find out in this preview.
The head-to-head matchup: Key details
Athletic Club and Sociedad have played 154 LALIGA matches against each other, with the most recent last January 2024 where Athletic Club won, 2-1. So far, Athletic has the advantage with 62 wins to Sociedad’s 53 wins.
They have drawn 39 times against each other in La Liga, which makes it look like there is an equal match-up between the two clubs. Athletic Club might have more than 10 wins against their Basque rivals, but the head-to-head duel is more balanced between the two. Over the past two seasons, they have traded in two wins apiece, which makes this match even more exciting.
With the match coming up on 24 November at San Mamés Stadium in Athletic Club, it should be one of the most exciting rivalry games in LALIGA’s 2024/25 season.
This head-to-head is a tough call for bettors due to the close fight but Athletic Club has slightly better odds of winning the game because of their higher spot in the current season and their overall win rate against Sociedad.
Analysing form and momentum ahead of the basque derby
Aside from their head-to-head stats, you should also consider both teams’ previous games in the current season. Athletic Club is currently at 6th place in the LALIGA just behind Osasuna while Sociedad is at 8th place.
Athletic Club’s five most recent games ended in two wins and three draws. You can check these stats and more at Sportsbet.io’s match page of the Basque derby, located at the right-side portion of the page.
Meanwhile, Sociedad’s last five matches ended in 3 wins and two losses. Athletic Club has better odds of winning the Basque derby but Sociedad will be an exciting underdog because of their most recent LALIGA fixture before this matchup.
Sociedad managed to defeat overall league favourites Barcelona earlier this month, with a 1-0 scoreline. Luka Sučić headed the ball to Sheraldo Becker, who was able to score a goal and win against the LALIGA giant Barca. Meanwhile, Athletic Club’s most recent game before this derby is a 1-1 draw with Valladolid, who’s currently in the relegation line.
Athletic Club will want to cement their place at the top of the table with this derby, but Sociedad might use their Barca win momentum and win against the odds.
The star players who will stand out in this match
When you dive into the two clubs, you can see some of the best players in Spain. Those are not only reserved for the top three clubs like Barça and the two Madrid clubs because both Sociedad and Athletic Club have fantastic players. Here are some of the standouts between these two clubs:
Real Sociedad
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Takefusa Kubo - The Japanese winger has been a standout ever since he was part of Real Madrid, but he got his big break playing for Sociedad. He is now one of the mainstays and one of the most reliable creators and goalscorers for the team.
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Mikel Oyarzabal - The ever-reliable left-winger and captain for Sociedad, Oyarzabal is well-known for his clutch performances, which was seen by most of the world during Spain’s UEFA Euros victory when he scored the winning goal in the final.
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Martin Zubimendi - As one of the best midfielders in Spain, Zubimendi has become a reliable passer and defender for Sociedad, and he has cemented himself as one of the sought-after midfielders due to his vast skill set in the centre of the pitch.
Athletic Club
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Nico Williams - The superstar winger for Athletic, Williams has always been an electric player due to his blistering pace, but he also has a versatile skill set with his ability to defend when needed. He can dominate a match using his pace, but he is also a clinical goalscorer and a creative force from the left-wing.
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Oihan Sancet - The creative midfielder for Athletic Club, Sancet can turn a game on its head with his precise passing and surprising power shots. Expect him to go under the radar, but he will pop out and showcase his skills in this game.
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Unai Simón - The captain and goalkeeper for Athletic Club, Simón has always been a reliable shot-stopper and his distribution will be crucial for Athletic Club, as they look to win this game on both ends of the pitch.
Who is the favourite ahead of this match?
Athletic Club are the slight favourites ahead of this match against their Basque rivals. They have the better record so far this season, and they have the history behind them with the lead in the head-to-head match-up between the two sides.
Of course, Sociedad will make this match hard to win because they have the confidence from the previous win against Barça. While Athletic Club is the slight favourite, do not be surprised if Real Sociedad wins this match.
It will be fun to watch, but it will be even more exciting if you make predictions here at Sportsbet.io. You can filter the markets for this match to easily spot which markets you want to place a bet on.
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