Will the Txuri-urdin keep their foot on the gas?
Unlike many great rivalries, the Basque derby between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad is characterized by shared culture and mutual respect. San Mames provides the perfect atmosphere for an exciting battle in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.
After a temporary slump in results, the home side has changed momentum and is unbeaten in three competitive games (2W, 1D).
This trend began in the last match between the two Basque clubs. On February 1, the two sides met at San Mames, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw. It was a joyful moment for Los Leones, who were able to breathe a sigh of relief thanks to a late and spectacular equalizer in the 88th minute.
Real Sociedad did not suffer any major damage from this minor setback. Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo and his assistant Ömer Toprak quickly won over the Txuri-urdin and made a remarkable start to their tenure.
The two coaches have now accompanied the club from the sidelines for eight competitive games – celebrating six wins and two draws. La Real has already won two matches in the Copa del Rey during this phase.
We are approaching this with a slightly cautious approach, without losing sight of the prospect of an attractive profit.
Athletic Bilbao – Real Sociedad Head-to-head comparison / H2H statistics
We have already mentioned the last meeting between the two sides just under two weeks ago in the Spanish Primera Division. For decades, the Basque derby has been characterized by relatively even conditions. Both clubs have won around 33 percent of the last 63 encounters.
The two semi-finalists both passed their dress rehearsal at the previous La Liga weekend, leaving a lasting impression, especially in attack. Los Leones won 4-2 at home against Levante, while Real Sociedad also beat newly promoted Elche (3-1) by two goals.
Athletic Bilbao – Real Sociedad Tip
Last weekend’s 3-1 win over Elche was Real Sociedad’s third game under Pellegrino Matarazzo in which the team scored at least three goals. Goals are being scored from a wide variety of positions and situations – there’s no stopping the fans in the stands at the moment.
However, the hosts have not been held back recently either. Athletic Bilbao scored a total of six goals in their previous two competitive games, reaching or exceeding the expected goal value of 2.0 in both matches and showing clinical finishing.
La Real has been even stronger in attack. On average, Matarazzo’s side has found the back of the net 2.83 times per game in its last eight competitive matches. In addition, the Txuri-urdin exceeded the expected goals value in seven of those eight games.
