Real Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao – News and Probable Lineups

Real Sociedad will seek to capitalize on their one-goal lead when they face Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.

La Real secured a 1-0 win in the first leg at San Mames last month, with Benat Turrientes scoring the only goal of the match in the 62nd minute.

Match overview

Real Sociedad delivered an impressive performance during their narrow victory at San Mames in the first leg, and the White and Blues find themselves in a strong position to reach the final of the tournament, though their task remains unfinished ahead of this next chapter in the Basque derby.

La Real has won the Copa del Rey only three times previously, with their last triumph occurring in the 2019-20 season when they defeated Athletic in the final.

Overall, Real Sociedad and Athletic have clashed 14 times in the Copa del Rey, with the former claiming six victories to the latter’s five, and four of their last five meetings in this tournament have been taken by the White and Blues.

Real Sociedad enters this fixture following a 1-0 victory over Mallorca, which places them eighth in the La Liga standings, just five points behind the top six.

If they successfully navigate this match on Wednesday night, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s squad would meet either Atletico Madrid or Barcelona in the final of this season’s Copa del Rey.

Athletic, on the other hand, heads into this match following a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano, and they have been solid since their loss to Real Sociedad in the first leg, accumulating seven points from their last three league outings.

Ernesto Valverde’s team remains unbeaten in La Liga since January 24, and with 35 points from 26 matches, they sit in ninth place in the table, also five points shy of the top six.

The Lions are the second-most decorated team in Copa del Rey history, having clinched the trophy on 24 occasions, falling just short of Barcelona’s 32 titles.

Their last victory in the Copa del Rey came in the 2023-24 campaign, marking their first success since lifting the trophy in 1983-84.

Athletic has not been able to defeat Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey since February 1982, and they are winless in their last four Basque derbies.

Real Sociedad Copa del Rey form:

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Real Sociedad form (all competitions):

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Athletic Bilbao Copa del Rey form:

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Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):

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Team News

Real Sociedad will once again be without Takefusa Kubo due to a hamstring issue, and Alvaro Odriozola and Inaki Ruperez will also miss the Basque derby.

No significant surprises are expected in the Real Sociedad starting XI for this matchup, with Turrientes, who was the hero in the first leg, likely to feature in midfield once more.

Orri Oskarsson is considered an injury doubt, so Carlos Soler is expected to get the nod to support Mikel Oyarzabal in the attacking third.

For Athletic, Unai Eguiluz and Yeray Alvarez will certainly be sidelined for the match, while Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Maroan Sannadi, Nico Williams, and Benat Prados are significant doubts.

Inaki Williams found the net against Rayo last outing and is expected to play in a wide position, while Gorka Guruzeta should again be featured centrally.

With Ruiz de Galarreta a major doubt following an injury sustained against Rayo, Alejandro Rego is on standby to be called up in midfield.

Real Sociedad probable starting XI:

Remiro; Aramburu, Martin, Caleta-Car, Gomez; Gorrotxategi, Turrientes; Marin, Soler, Guedes; Oyarzabal

Athletic Bilbao probable starting XI:

Padilla; Lekue, Vivian, Laporte, Boiro; Jauregizar, Rego; I Williams, Gomez, Navarro; the cross

Real Sociedad holds a favorable position in the tie, and we anticipate they will conclude the task on Wednesday night against an Athletic side that has struggled to rediscover their best form throughout much of the season.