Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad: el Derbi Vasco que define puestos europeos — horario, TV y alineaciones (Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad: Basque Derby to Decide European Spots — Kick-off Time, TV Channel & Line-Ups)

The first Basque derby of 2026 ended level as Athletic Club and Real Sociedad shared a 1-1 draw at San Mamés on 1 February, extending both sides’ unbeaten league runs but leaving supporters wondering what might have been for two European-chasing outfits. Athletic vs Real Sociedad match recap • 19’ – Gonçalo Guedes silenced the home crowd with a dipping right-footed strike from 22 metres, his sixth La Liga goal since arriving on loan in January. • 68’ – Iñaki Williams levelled for Los Leones, turning in Nico Williams’ low cross to notch his 10th league goal and keep his ever-present record intact. • Key stats: possession 55-45 to Real, shots 14-12 Athletic, xG almost identical at 1.17-1.15, underlining how difficult it is to separate these historic rivals. What the result means for La Liga The draw keeps Athletic Club fifth on 41 points, two behind fourth-placed Atlético Madrid, while Real Sociedad sit seventh on 38, one off the final European slot. With 14 rounds left, every point is precious in a congested table dominated by Girona’s surprise title tilt. Both Basque clubs have made continental qualification their stated objective, and maintaining momentum after the winter break is crucial. Form guide and talking points 1. Consistency at San Mamés: Ernesto Valverde’s men have now lost just once in 11 home matches, conceding under a goal per game. 2. Real’s road resilience: Imanol Alguacil’s side have dropped only one of their last six away fixtures thanks to an organised 4-3-3 that compresses space between the lines. 3. Williams brothers chemistry: Nico’s pace and Iñaki’s movement continue to trouble defences; they have combined for six league goals in 2025-26. 4. Takefusa Kubo watch: Fresh from Asian Cup duty, the Japanese star made a 22-minute cameo but looked sharp, completing all eight passes and forcing a smart save from Unai Simón. Upcoming fixtures • Athletic travel to Cádiz next Sunday before hosting Villarreal. • Real Sociedad welcome struggling Granada then face a Copa del Rey semifinal first leg against Real Betis. Basque derby history snapshot The 1-1 stalemate is the sixth draw in the last ten league meetings. Athletic still edge the overall La Liga H2H with 61 wins to Real’s 55, alongside 52 draws. Quote of the night “We created enough to win but lacked the final pass,” lamented Alguacil. Valverde countered, “A point keeps us in the race and the atmosphere showed why Athletic vs Real Sociedad is special.” SEO takeaway With both squads in European contention, every Athletic – Real Sociedad clash carries extra weight. Search interest in the Basque derby spikes around matchdays, and fans will already be tracking the reverse fixture in April, where bragging rights and potential Champions League places will again be on the line.