Athletic Clashes with Rivals Again in Key semi-final

Athletic Club faced off against their Basque rivals for the sixth time in seven seasons, just ten days after their recent encounter, which ended in a challenging 1-1 draw in La Liga.

A Tense Start in Front of a Full Crowd

With a lively atmosphere in San Mamés, the match began cautiously. The home team had a promising moment when Iñigo Lekue’s skill on the right flank led to a cross aimed at Gorka Guruzeta, whose strong header was saved by Álex Remiro.

Match stats

However, Real Sociedad, known for their aggressive play, soon created a significant chance when Pablo Marín rushed toward the goal with only goalkeeper Álex Padilla to beat, but his shot was directed straight at the Athletic keeper.

As the first half progressed, a moment of controversy occurred when VAR reviewed a potential penalty for La Real but opted not to grant it, despite Duje Ćaleta-Car’s header seemingly hitting Aymeric Laporte’s arm in the box.

Societal Breakthrough and Missed Opportunities

Just after the second half kicked off, Sociedad came agonizingly close to scoring. Padilla’s impressive save denied Mikel Oyarzabal, and a follow-up shot from Marín struck the post from very close range.

The Decisive Goal

At long last, the visitors managed to find the back of the net in the 62nd minute. Gonçalo Guedes received a pass from Carlos Soler, deftly nudged the ball past Padilla, and set up Beñat Turrientes to slot it into an empty net.

Following this, Ernesto Valverde’s team struggled to respond effectively, highlighted by Nico Williams missing a header from Lekue’s inviting cross.

Unlike their previous league match, the Athletic side couldn’t mount a thrilling comeback and have only managed to secure one victory in their last six home fixtures (D2, L3).

Looking Ahead

The teams have ample time to consider this outcome, as the second leg isn’t set to take place until March 4th. Meanwhile, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s squad is riding high, having maintained an unbeaten streak of 11 matches in all competitions (W8, D3) as they enter the halfway point of the fixture.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Carlos Soler (Real Sociedad)

For all match statistics, click here.