Álex Berenguer's stoppage-time penalty at the end of the first half gave Athletic Club a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in the Basque derby at San Mamés on Sunday. Iñaki Williams had opened the scoring and Luka Sučić equalised, before a contested spot-kick decision settled the game.
Match facts
- Result: Athletic Club 2-1 Real Sociedad (half-time 2-1)
- Competition: LaLiga EA Sports, Matchday 11
- Venue: San Mamés, Bilbao (attendance 50,092)
- Scorers: Athletic Club - I. Williams 14', Berenguer 45+2' (pen); Real Sociedad - Sučić 30'
- Red cards: None
- Next: Real Sociedad v Lyon, Europa League, Thursday 5 November; Osasuna v Athletic Club, LaLiga, Saturday 7 November (17:30 UK); Real Sociedad v Rayo Vallecano, LaLiga, Sunday 8 November (15:15 UK)
How the match unfolded
Athletic started fast. In the second minute Berenguer missed from close range after a cross from Hugo Rincón, and the hosts lost striker Maroan Sannadi to injury four minutes later, with Robert Navarro replacing him.
The opener came in the 14th minute. Nico Williams played a through ball to his brother Iñaki, who got away from Mamadou Sarr and beat Álex Remiro one-on-one.
Real Sociedad grew into the game through possession and equalised in the 30th minute. Jon Aramburu's cross was deflected and the ball fell to Sučić, who struck a left-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom corner. Unai Simón then kept the scores level with saves from Ander Barrenetxea in the 34th minute and Mikel Oyarzabal four minutes later.
Just before half-time referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández awarded a penalty when Nico Williams went down under a challenge from Aramburu. Real Sociedad's players and staff protested, but the VAR, Carlos del Cerro Grande, did not send the referee to the monitor. Berenguer converted the spot-kick two minutes into stoppage time, and Iñaki Williams was booked shortly afterwards.
Remiro saved from Iñaki Williams in the 52nd minute. Real Sociedad coach Pellegrino Matarazzo sent on Orri Óskarsson for Barrenetxea in the 62nd minute and was booked himself three minutes later. Simón saved a long-range shot from Carlos Soler in the 73rd minute, and Takefusa Kubo and Beñat Turrientes came on two minutes later as the visitors pushed for an equaliser.
In the 88th minute Simón kept out a close-range header from Óskarsson. Real Sociedad finished with 62% of the ball and 14 shots to Athletic's 13, but could not find a second goal.
What does the derby win mean?
"We have to win the derby," Edin Terzić said before his first Basque derby, and his side delivered a third straight win in all competitions after victories over Getafe and AE Prat. The result lifts Athletic to seventh on 15 points with a game in hand, after their match at Rayo Vallecano was abandoned in October. Berenguer also scored in last week's 4-0 win over Getafe.
Real Sociedad stay fifth on 19 points, but their run of four straight league wins is over. Matarazzo's side, who beat Deportivo 3-2 at home last month, now turn to Europe.
What happens next?
Real Sociedad host Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday (17:45 UK) before Rayo Vallecano visit on Sunday. Athletic travel to Osasuna on Saturday. More results are in our La Liga section.
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Sources
- LaLiga: Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad, Matchday 11 match centre
- Athletic Club: Athletic Club - Real Sociedad match page
- Athletic Club: Terzić: "We have to win the derby against Real Sociedad"
- LaLiga: LaLiga EA Sports standings
- LaLiga: CA Osasuna vs Athletic Club, Matchday 12
- LaLiga: Real Sociedad vs Rayo Vallecano, Matchday 12
- BBC Sport: Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad
- Mundo Deportivo: 2-1: Un buen Athletic y un árbitro protagonista acaban con la Real en San Mamés
- ESPN: Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad match summary