Real Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao

Following a tough loss to Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, Athletic Bilbao will shift focus to La Liga on Sunday night, facing Real Sociedad in the latest chapter of the Basque derby.

This storied rivalry, which began in 1909, is a major event for both clubs, and Athletic will aim to regain momentum before their Europa League second leg against Manchester United next week.

Real Sociedad, who were knocked out by Manchester United in the Europa League round of 16 with a 5-2 aggregate defeat in March, have also faced challenges in La Liga. Currently sitting 10th with 42 points from 33 games, their season has been underwhelming.

With head coach Imanol Alguacil set to depart this summer, Real Sociedad are pushing for a European spot. They trail eighth-placed Osasuna by two points and are four points behind seventh-placed Celta Vigo, keeping hopes alive for a Europa League berth next season.

However, Real Sociedad head into the match after a 1-0 loss to Alaves and have earned just one point from their last three games, including a home defeat to Mallorca in April.

Athletic’s recent 3-0 defeat to Manchester United was compounded by a first-half red card to key defender Dani Vivian, leaving them with a steep challenge in the second leg at Old Trafford. A comeback seems unlikely.

In La Liga, Athletic are well-positioned in fourth, five points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal and six clear of sixth-placed Real Betis, though their away form has been inconsistent, with only six wins from 16 league matches on the road.

Athletic have won the last two Basque derbies, including a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture this season. However, Real Sociedad dominated the corresponding match last season with a 3-0 win.