Sports mole previews the Liga conflict on Sunday between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao, including predictions, team news and possible alignments.
Of A heavy defeat against Manchester United In the first stage of their Europa League semi-final, Athletic bilbao will resume interior tasks on Sunday evening with a confrontation against Real Sociedad In the last episode of the Basque derby.
A rivalry dating from 1909 is a gigantic element for both sides, and Athletic will seek to get back on the right track before the return match of their quarter -final of the Europa League with Man United next week.
Correspondence overview
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Real Sociedad knows what the loss against Man United in the Europa League looks like, having undergone 5-2 defeat on the aggregates of the English champions 20 times in the last 16 stages of the competition in March.
Unlike Athletic, however, Real has also struggled at the national level this season, with a disappointing campaign La Liga leaving them 10th place in the tablePicking only 42 points from their 33 games.
Sheriff Imanol Will be held down as Real Sociedad’s chief coach this summer, but he will be determined to lead the team to a European finish, with only two points separating them from Osasuna eighth at this stage of the procedure.
The Basque team is only four points of the seventh placed Celta Vigo, so a place at the Stade de la Ligue Europa de la season next season is not impossible, and this would be a relatively successful end of a frustrating campaign.
The Real Sociedad will enter the match in the back of a 1-0 defeat against Alaves, when they only regained a point compared to their last three games, also losing at home against Mallorca in mid-April.
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The great evening of athletics against Man United Thursday could not have been much worse, undergoing a 3-0 defeat, when they lost the inspiring defender Dani Vivian to a red card in the first half of the competition.
Ernesto ValverdeThe side now has a mountain to climb during the return match in Old Trafford next week if they want to get a place in the final in San Mames, but it is incredibly difficult to imagine such a turnaround that takes place in Manchester.
The athletics are relatively comfortable with regard to the places in the Champions League in the high flight of Spain, seated fourth in the table, five points ahead of Villarreal placed and six in sixth in sixth.
There is still work to do for the Lions, however, and they have managed to win six of their 16 games from the league outside this season, the majority of their strong work coming before their own supporters.
Athletic won the last two Basque derbies, including 1-0 success in the opposite match earlier this season, but it was 3-0 at Real Sociedad when the two teams locked the horns in the match corresponding to the 2023-24 campaign.
Real Sociedad La League Form:
Real Sociedad form (all competitions):
Bilbao La Liga athletic form:
Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):
Team news
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Real Sociedad will be without the services of three players by injury on Sunday evening, with Igor Zubeldia,, Alvaro Odriozola And Arsen Zakharyan Indicable for selection.
The head coach Alguacil should resist the temptation to mix his bag for the Basque Derby, with Martin Zubimendi And Mikel Oyarzabal Again, he is among beginners on Sunday evening.
Zubimendi should largely leave the Sociedad Real during the transfer window this summer, while Oyarzabal is another in their team which is on the radar of a certain number of major clubs due to its pedigree.
As for Athletic, Vivian’s suspension only concerns the Europa League, and it will not play Old Trafford next week, so a place in the XI for this match is an absolute certainty for the Spanish international.
Unai Simon should be back between the sticks, having been controversial to start against Man United, but the top scorer Oihan Sancet Lack due to a problem with hamstrings.
Nico Williams Has struggled to make his mark against Man United, and there are concerns about a problem with the current groin, but the Spanish international should start what could be his last Basque derby.
Benat Prados Can be presented to refresh the midfielder, when there could also be a change in the last third of the field, with Bitter gurus And Alvaro Djalo Both in the running to start this weekend.
Real Sociedad Possible Startping:
Remio; Aramburu, Martin, Pacheco, J Lopez; Cubes, Mendez, Zubimendi, Marin, S Gomez; Oyarzabal
Possible athletic bilbao starting alignment:
Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri; Jaucregizar, Benat; I Williams, Berenguer, N Williams; Guruzeta
We say: Real Sociedad 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
There has not been a liga draw between these two parties since October 2021, their last six games producing a winner – four victories for athletic and two for Real Sociedad; Athletics turned out to be the best side of this term, but we have trouble supporting them with real confidence on Sunday, so a low -score draw can be on the cards.
For the analysis of the most likely results of the results, the scores and more for this correspondence Please click here.
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