Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad Betting Tips and Predictions

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Athletic Bilbao

Real Sociedad

Athletic picked up an excellent 1-0 win in Marseille in the Europa League on Thursday but their minds will have turned to this match immediately after full-time at the Velodrome. They are having a good season overall and come into the game in 7th place, 5 points better off than Sociedad but 1 point and 1 place below the other Basque side, Eibar. Interestingly they have only lost 2 games in the last 13 months against sides currently below them in the Primera Division standings, which suggests they cope very well against teams in mid-table and below.

This could be one of the best derby meetings in recent years with both sides in quite good form and scoring plenty of goals. Real Sociedad have really turned a corner over the past month, picking up 3 wins on the spin in the league coming into this one and they’ve won their last two matches by an aggregate score of 8-0 including a 5-0 win at Espanyol in their most recent away game.

Reason for Betting Tips

Only Barcelona and Real Madrid have won at San Mames since January 2015 so it is a real fortress and despite Real Sociedad’s improved form, this is going to be tough for them. They’ve not won away from home in the league against a side currently in the top half in any of the last 3 seasons since they won 1-0 at Deportivo on the final day of the 2012/13 season. Therefore consider backing Athletic to continue their impressive home form with a 2-1 win at 15/2.

Recent Form

All competitions, most recent first:

Athletic Bilbao: WLDWLW

Real Sociedad: WWWLDW

Head-to-Head

The last 4 meetings have all finished level and Athletic haven’t beaten Real Sociedad in 7 attempts since a 2-0 win at San Mames in March 2012.

Statistics

There have been over 2.5 goals in 64% of Athletic’s home games and 67% of Real Sociedad’s away games this season.

Team News

Athletic Bilbao: Etxeita is suspended for Athletic who otherwise should be at full strength.

Real Sociedad: The visitors are still without top scorer Agirretxe as well as Canales, Raul Navas and Carlos Martinez but have been in good form without them in any case.