'This match transcends the table' – Valverde calls on Athletic to harness Basque derby passion

Athletic Club must know how to harness the intense emotions that come with playing a Basque derby when they visit Real Sociedad on Saturday.

That is the view of the visitors' head coach Ernesto Valverde, who knows a victory would make an enormous difference to the way their start to the season is perceived. 

Athletic are ninth in LaLiga with 14 points from 10 games, five points off the top four but only the same amount clear of the relegation zone. 

La Real, meanwhile, are only above the dreaded dotted line on goal difference, despite beating Sevilla 2-1 last time out to ease the pressure on boss Sergio Francisco.

Athletic were beaten 1-0 at home by Getafe in their most recent league game, having played out a goalless draw with Elche the previous matchday.

Valverde said: "We are not on a good run in LaLiga, even though our position is not bad. We are close to fifth and sixth, but also to the bottom positions.

"I think we are a great team, but it's not just that the coach or the players say that we are a great team, we have to get the results.

"When you win, everyone is with you and when you lose, you have to push a little more."

Asked about the five-point difference between the Basque clubs in the standings, he said: "It's a match that transcends the table. 

"No matter how much distance there may be at certain times, derbies are always unmatched because there is a significant emotional charge in them. You have to know how to play with that."

Sergio Francisco, meanwhile, is relishing his first experience of a senior derby, having previously overseen meetings between the clubs' youth sides.

"I face it with great enthusiasm. I've experienced it as an amateur and it was crazy. I am looking forward to living it and I hope it goes well," he said. 

"It's a different game. We had the Copa del Rey this week, but we knew the derby was coming and we experienced it differently. The team feels very good playing at home. 

"The people who go to the stadium help us a lot. They give us support. On the day of Sevilla, we felt something different, but tomorrow will be special."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Sociedad – Mikel Oyarzabal

Oyarzabal, who scored a brace in his last league outing against Sevilla, has netted seven goals in 18 LaLiga matches against Athletic.

That is his joint-most against a single opponent in the competition, also netting seven times in 15 matches against Getafe.

Athletic Club – Gorka Guruzeta

Guruzeta has attempted 14 shots and failed to score in LaLiga this campaign, with no striker attempting more without scoring in the competition this term. 

Bryan Zaragoza and Haissem Hassan are the other players to fire off 14 shots without hitting the net.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Real Sociedad have not won any of their last three LaLiga games against Athletic (D1 L2), failing to score in the last two, though they have not gone three or more games without scoring against the Rojiblancos in the competition since January 1995 (D3).

Athletic, meanwhile, have not won on their last eight visits to La Real in LaLiga (D3 L5), since a 2-0 victory in Ernesto Valverde's first spell in charge in March 2017.

This is their longest run without a win away from home against the San Sebastian side since 2000 (P9 D4 L5).

La Real are coming off a 2-1 win in their last LaLiga match against Sevilla, having won just one of their previous 10 in the competition (D3 L6), but they have not won two straight matches in the competition since April 2025 (W2).

Athletic are winless in their last three away games in LaLiga (D1 L2), failing to score in all three, and they could go four straight road matches without netting for the first time since March 2018.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Sociedad – 35.6%

Athletic Club – 34.6%

Draw – 29.8%