Los Leones are in search of a turning point and take on a revitalised Real Sociedad, who remain undefeated under Matarazzo.
LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 22 is just around the corner and one specific fixture is expected to captivate fans, as Athletic Club host Real Sociedad in a much-anticipated BASQUE DERBY. The two teams are heading into the clash on very opposite trajectories, with the hosts struggling to rediscover their form while the visitors are making the most of a new manager bounce following Pellegrino Matarazzo’s appointment. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
Athletic Club hope to turn their season around
Ernesto Valverde’s side have won just one league game since early October, with five of their last seven matches ending in a loss. That sole victory came at home against Atlético de Madrid but it was followed by defeats to RC Celta, RCD Espanyol, RCD Mallorca and Sevilla FC. In that last outing, Robert Navarro opened the scoring in the 40th minute for the Basques, but Peque Fernández equalised two minutes later for Sevilla FC, with Akor Adams turning the game around before the hour mark.
Averaging less than one goal scored per game (20 in 21 matches), Athletic Club have celebrated just seven victories so far this season, currently sitting in the bottom half of the table. The BASQUE DERBY provides Los Leones with a first-class opportunity to flip the switch and turn their season around while potentially getting themselves back in the race for European qualification. To do so, though, they will need to get past one of the most in-form teams in Spain at the moment.
A revitalised Real Sociedad march on
Matarazzo’s arrival in early January has changed the course of the season for Real Sociedad, who remain unbeaten under the 48-year-old coach. A 1-1 draw at home against Atlético was followed by a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Getafe CF before the Txuri-urdin completed an epic comeback to beat CA Osasuna on penalties and clinch qualification to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
Real Sociedad then maintained their momentum with a clinical 2-1 win over FC Barcelona before another hard-fought victory, this time against RC Celta on Sunday. Under torrential rain in San Sebastián, Mikel Oyarzabal scored for a second straight match to put the hosts ahead before Duje Ćaleta-Car left his team down to 10 men just before the break. Eager to take advantage of their numerical advantage, the visitors pushed back and levelled the scores through Borja Iglesias, but an unyielding Real Sociedad netted twice in the closing stages through Oyarzabal and Brais Méndez to win 3-1 and grab their fourth straight victory across all competitions.
The battle between a derby veteran and a newcomer
With that win, Real Sociedad extended their undefeated streak to seven games, including five under Matarazzo, who is set to make his BASQUE DERBY debut in the dugout. Sunday’s clash will see him face one of LALIGA EA SPORTS’ most experienced coaches in Valverde.
The Athletic Club boss has faced Real Sociedad 19 times in derbies as a coach, holding a narrow advantage in their head-to-head meetings. With Valverde in charge, Los Leones have won seven derbies, with the Txuri-urdin celebrating six victories including a 3-2 win in the last duel between the two sides back in November. Matchday 11’s derby saw Real Sociedad surrender two leads before a goal from Jon Gorrotxategi in stoppage clinched all three points for the hosts.
Athletic Club can take confidence from the fact that they have won each of their last four home duels against their Basque rivals, with Real Sociedad having scored just once on the road since 2021. It should be noted that Valverde has suffered just one home loss at the hands of the Txuri-urdin, whom he has beaten six times in nine games at San Mamés. It now remains to be seen if the hosts will manage to get their season back on track with a potential derby win or whether Real Sociedad will keep riding their momentum under Matarazzo.
