Real Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions

Real Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao predictions for Saturday’s La Liga fixture. Real Sociedad will be keen to make the most of their home advantage when they clash with Athletic Bilbao for the Basque derby. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

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Match Live Saturday, 30th September at 8:00 pm In:

Real Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions

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The Basque Battle: Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao’s Race for Supremacy

One of La Liga’s most anticipated fixtures, the Basque Derby, is set to unfold at the Anoeta Stadium this Saturday evening. It sees fifth-placed Real Sociedad, boasting 12 points, hosting fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who have an impressive 14 points from the same number of matches. A mere two points separate the two teams, setting the stage for an exhilarating match.

A Glimpse at the Recent Past

Real Sociedad, fondly known as the White and Blues, started the season on a slightly shaky note with three consecutive draws. However, their form improved, sealing victories in three out of their past four matches, particularly noteworthy triumphs over Getafe and Valencia. Alongside their La Liga performances, they managed a commendable 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in their Champions League opener on 20th September. Their only stumble this season was a defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, post the international hiatus.

Contrarily, Athletic Bilbao, nicknamed The Lions, opened their campaign with a loss to Real Madrid but bounced back, remaining unbeaten since. Four wins from their last six matches, including commendable away victories against Osasuna and Alaves, highlight their impressive form. Ernesto Valverde’s team’s latest outing ended in a 2-2 draw against Getafe. Remarkably, Inaki Williams stands out this season with four goals in just seven appearances, signifying his impressive form.

Head-to-Head

Historically, Real Sociedad have had an edge in the Basque Derby, evidenced by their 3-1 win over Athletic last season. But it’s not all rosy for them, as victories have been scarce, winning only once in their last five encounters with their Basque counterparts.

Team News and Tactics

Real Sociedad’s roster will miss Martin Merquelanz due to a knee injury, with Arsen Zakharyan also doubtful. Key players like Alvaro Odriozola and Martin Zubimendi, who were instrumental in the recent victory over Valencia, are expected to start. Andre Silva, fully recovered from his injury, might also grace the pitch.

On the other hand, Athletic’s line-up will probably miss the flair of Nico Williams owing to a muscular issue. Peru Nolaskoain and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta remain sidelined due to injuries, and Oihan Sancet’s recent red card against Getafe means he won’t be playing either.

Analysis and BettingTips4You Expert Rating

Real Sociedad, with an average BettingTips4You Expert Rating of 6.86, ranks 12/20 in La Liga. Their standout player is the talented Takefusa Kubo, boasting a superb rating of 7.80. Athletic, on the other hand, have a slightly superior rating at 6.94, ranking 6/20, with Iñaki Williams leading with a stellar 7.60 rating.

In terms of attacking prowess, both teams have displayed similar potency, averaging 1.9 goals per match. Defensively, Athletic Bilbao hold a slight advantage, conceding fewer goals and maintaining more clean sheets.

Predictions

1. Match Outcome – Draw: Given the form and performance data of both teams, predicting a victor is a close call. Hence, a draw seems a likely outcome, considering their recent form and how evenly matched they are.
2. Correct Score – 2-2: With both teams showing significant attacking prowess and the importance of the derby, a high-scoring draw is on the cards.
3. Goalscorer – Inaki Williams: Given his scintillating form, Williams is our pick to find the net at least once during the match.
4. Corner Prediction – Athletic Bilbao to have more corners: Drawing from the stats, Athletic Bilbao edges out in terms of corners per game.

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