Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad Preview, Prediction, Odds, Betting Tips 24.11.2024

• Date and Time: November 24, 21:00 GMT+1
• Venue: San Mames, Bilbao, Spain

Athletic Club

Athletic Club are 6th in La Liga with 20 points, clinging to the final European qualification spot with 20 points. 

Ernesto Valverde’s team couldn’t get past Real Valladolid (1-1) and avoided a defeat thanks to Gorka Guruzeta’s dramatic last-minute equaliser. Athletic Club dominated the match with 17 attempts and an xG of 1.61, while Real Valladolid managed just 6 shots and an xG of 0.61. 

Athletic Club forward Alex Berenguer left the pitch injured, depriving Ernesto Valverde of his crucial presence in the penalty box.

Athletic Club’s season has been excellent, suffering only three defeats since the beginning of the season in La Liga (vs Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid and Girona). 

The team has also maintained an excellent record in the Europa League. After settling for a draw against AS Roma (1-1), Ernesto Valverde’s men defeated Slavia Praha (1-0) and PFC Ludogorets (1-2). 

Goalkeeper Unai Simón is also unavailable, though he is expected to return in two weeks.

Real Sociedad

Unlike their Basque neighbors Athletic Club, Real Sociedad will face their Copa del Rey tie against Jove Español de San Vicente, a lower-division side from the Valencian region. 

Originally slated for October 30th, the match was postponed due to the DANA storm and rescheduled for November 21st—just three days before the highly anticipated Basque Derby at San Mamés.

Real Sociedad’s Europa League campaign has been anything but convincing. Imanol Alguacil’s side opened with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Anderlecht at home and followed it with a 1-1 stalemate against Nice. While they managed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv in San Sebastián, their struggles on the road were evident in a 2-1 loss to Viktoria Plzeň.

In La Liga, Real Sociedad have faced problems against compact and well-drilled teams, suffering defeats against teams like Deportivo Alavés (1-2), Mallorca (0-1), and Osasuna (0-2). 

Head coach Imanol Alguacil has struggled to maximize the potential of key attackers such as Takefusa Kubo and Mikel Oyarzabal. Only Sheraldo Becker has been successful as a forward, but the team’s midfield struggles after Mikel Merino’s exit.

The team will be without right-back Harami Traoré, who is not expected to return until May 2025 due to a cruciate ligament tear.

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Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad Prediction

• Prediction: Athletic Club to win
• Odds: 2.21 (22Bet)
• Score Prediction: Athletic Club 2-1 Real Sociedad

The Basque Derby is one of the fiercest rivalries in Spain, where local pride and tradition meet the intensity of La Liga.

Athletic Club have only two points more than their rivals, and only two places separate the two teams. Athletic are considered favourites due to Real Sociedad’s disappointing start to the season, while Ernesto Valverde’s side has maintained a consistent level of performance. 

The match will be held at the iconic San Mames, renowned for its distinctive and electrifying atmosphere. This derby is one of the most intense La Liga has to offer.

Athletic Club’s home advantage might tilt the scales in their favor, but derbies often defy form books. Real Sociedad have shown they can punch above their weight, as demonstrated by their hard-fought 1-1 draw against Atlético de Madrid earlier this season. 

Athletic Club triumphed in their last meeting at San Mames in January (2-1), though back-to-back wins in this fixture are rare, with the intense local rivalry levelling the playing field.

This matchup also showcases the Basque region’s footballing identity. Both clubs rely heavily on homegrown talent from their academies. However, Real Sociedad has embraced a more flexible approach, incorporating foreign players into its developmental ranks.

Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad Betting Tip

• Pick: Nico Williams to score
• Odds: 4 (22Bet)

It’s indisputable that the team will feel Alex Berenguer’s absence, their expert in the penalty box. However, Ernesto Valverde can still count on Nico Williams, an explosive winger who is difficult to deal with in transitions. 

The former Barcelona coach is renowned for his high-intensity football, which will likely see Nico as the creative spark, exploiting Real Sociedad’s lack of defensive compactness on the flanks. 

Real Sociedad has struggled to find full-backs over the past years, and Traoré is now injured. Therefore, it’s likely that Real Sociedad will struggle against Nico’s 1v1 dribbles.

With both teams eager to assert dominance in the Basque Derby, the flanks will be a decisive battleground, and Nico Williams could emerge as the game-changer.

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