by Athletic and Real Sociedad are measured in San Mames in a Basque derby in style given the outstanding seasons they are completing, the Bilbao team in Champions League positions and the San Sebastian native also in European positions and also in champions round of 16 as group champion.
The red and white team faces the match in a tremendous streak of results, since they have four consecutive victories without conceding a goal and twelve games without losing with nine victories between them. Three of those wins have been in the Copa del Rey and in LaLiga he has 21 points out of a possible 27 and 20 from the last 24.
In addition, he has completed the best first round in 40 years with 38 points, an amount whose projection at the end of the championship usually ensures without problems playing continental competition.
Data that, something very important for those who direct ErnestoValverdeIn general, they correspond to what happened on the field of play because they usually end up imposing their dizzying football, pressure and continuous arrivals at the rival area to his rivals.
he Athletic The year 2023 ended with a plethora and 2024 has started in the same way. And that has lost its most outstanding player of the season, Iñaki Williams, who is with Ghana in the African Cup.
Despite this, the rojiblancos imposed themselves with enormous authority onl Sevilla in the League at the Sánchez Pizjuán (0-2), and Eibar in the Cup in Ipurua (0-3). He overwhelmed the Sevillian team on the pitch and defeated the gunsmith in the first half with a tremendous punch.
In Eibar, in addition, three players who had lost prominence were vindicated, Julen Agirrezabala, Asier Villalibre and captain Iker Muniain, who join a group in which those who are entering are giving satisfaction to their coach, who seems to have found the key to forming a powerful team.
Well, despite this, neither Agirrezabalathe goal of the Cup and key with a stop in Ipurua with 0-0, nor the ‘Búfalo’ Villalibrethat opened and closed the scoreboard, nor Muniain, who scored a great goal to remember, is presumed to be headlines for tomorrow. As the recovered man is not yet expected in the eleven Yeray Alvarez.
Before the Real what is presumed to be the usual ‘Txingurri’ block, with the only doubt being whether Oscar de Marcos will continue, who reappeared in Eibaror I will returnñigo lekue, relief of both From Marcos to Yuri Berchiche when the starters and the fittest side of the team are missing.
For the rest, the couple is also expected. Mikel Vesga-Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta in the double pivot and Alex Berenguer on the wing that does not initially occupy a Nico Williams already recovered after starting the week working apart due to a blow suffered in the cup clash.
Great news for him Athleticsince the smallest of the williamsAnd even more so, with his brother missing, he is capital in Bilbao’s offensive game.
For the rest, Unai Simón baled sticks, the central couple Dani Vivian-Aitor Paredes, Oihan Sancet in the midfielder and the scorer Gorka Guruzeta Above they also appear fixed in an eleven that is working almost perfectly since it comfortably prevailed in San Mames in mid-December to Atlético de Madrid.
A triumph that may have meant. The inflection point for an Athletic that was already giving very good sensations this season and that faces the most classic of Basque derbies energized and euphoric.
For the Real society It’s about a difficult exambecause a defeat would leave Imanol Alguacil’s team very far from the fight for positions in the maximum continental competitionso whatever scoring would be positive for your aspirations.
The realistic dynamic is not being the best in LaLiga EA Sports. It is true that so far this season they have only lost to Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and Barcelonabut in the last five games they have achieved four draws and a single victory, a poor record if one seeks to hear the anthem of the stars again next season.
Alguacil already knows that he will not be able to count on the internationals of the Asia Cup and Africa Cupa, that is, with Take Kubo (Japan) and Hamari Traoré (Mali) and Sadiq Umar (Nigeria) as an example.three players with great weight in the Orio coach’s plans.
The positive part is found in the discharge section of the infirmary, because the Portuguese Andre Silva He seems to have recovered from his soleus injury and has been included in the squad, which includes the young forward of the reserve team. Bryan Fiabema.
Not on this list Alex Remiro after the expulsion suffered in the last league match at home against Deportivo Alavés, so the responsibility between the sticks falls on Unai Marrero.
The Real does not expire is San Mames since December 31, 2020. That 0-1 before New Year’s Eve was also the prelude to the victory in the Copa del Rey final on April 3, 2021. Since then, the last two visits to the Bilbao fiefdom were nothing good for the txuri urdin: 4-0 and 2-0.
Probable lineups:
Athletic Club: Unai Simón; Lekue, Vivian, Paredes, Yuri; Vesga, Galarreta; Nico Williams, Sancet, Berenguer; and Guruzeta..
Royal Society: Marrero; Aritz, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Tierney; Zubimendi, Merino, Brais; Zakharyan, Oyarzabal and Barrenetxea.
Referee: José Luis Munuera Montero (Andalusian Committee).
Field: San Mamés.
Time: 6:30 p.m.
