LaLiga – Match-day 25 Sees Athletic Bilbao take on Real Sociedad
San Mames Stadium sees Sunday action as Athletic Bilbao take on Real – 9:00pm GMT.
Real currently sit in sixth place as they travel to eighth placed Athletic Bilbao.
It’s 34 points so far for Athletic Bilbao this season, going into this meeting
Athletic Bilbao will have doubtless licked their wounds, following their recent defeat to Mallorca at Estadi de Son Moix. Marcelino’s men will hope that is enough to deliver a positive result in this match.
Also, Athletic Bilbao keep finding ways to win, having secured four victories in their last seven games is astonishing this season. With 34 points, they currently sit eighth in the League. The breakdown for the team’s record is 8 wins, 6 losses and 10 draws having won eight fixtures, drawn 10 matches, and lost six meetings.
When Athletic Bilbao host Real, they will do so on the back of five wins, two draws, and four losses on their own ground.
A victory for Athletic Bilbao would put them on 37 points.
A solid defensive team
It’s an easy statement to make, but to win you simply have to score more goals than your opponent. Athletic Bilbao have been consistently applying this principle, whilst remaining defensively solid as a unit this season, with 21 goals in their previous matches. This has been an average season so far, in terms of performance and entertainment, even though they have delivered a decent rate of goals (25). This has been largely down to the key attacking players: Unai Simon (1), Inigo Martinez (1), and Alex Berenguer (1).
Athletic Bilbao are no strangers this season to illness and injury and Marcelino is concerned that Sunday’s fixture could see him without three of his key players.
This season’s LaLiga campaign, has so far seen Real Sociedad achieve 38 points
Real will hope to increase their wins in a row, having secured a 2-0 victory over Granada in their last fixture.
Also, can Real continue their incredible form this season and extend their un-beaten run of five matches? Their position is sixth in the League and they have 38 points, that is, 10W, 5L and 8D having won 10 games, drawn eight meetings, and lost five fixtures.
Real’s away record is remarkable and poses a significant threat to Athletic Bilbao. In the 11 games they’ve played on the road this season, they have so far won four games, drawn four meetings, and lost three matches.
A win in this fixture, would take Real Sociedad’s points from 38 to 41, so far this season.
A solid defensive team
Real’s defence has been rock solid so far, only conceding 21 goals in their previous games. Real have scored an impressive 24 goals so far this season (23 from open play and one penalty), however their performances have at times been average. This season, their stand-out attacking players have been Mikel Oyarzabal (1), Rafinha (1), and Alex Remiro.
Going into Sunday’s game, Imanol Alguacil without six of his players, due to illness or injury.
Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad – Head-to-Heads.
Regarding their historical duels the two teams have already played each other 53 times with the tally being 18 victories and 20 draws for Athletic Bilbao. Further, in ten of the last 13 meetings between these sides, the result has been a draw. Their most recent encounter in this competition was October 2021 and the score line ended up with a 1-1 draw.
Other standout players for Athletic Bilbao are Unai Simon and Inigo Martinez with one goals each and for Real are Mikel Oyarzabal and Rafinha with one goals both.
