Read our prediction for Ath Bilbao vs Real Sociedad below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Ath Bilbao vs Real Sociedad and you can increase your winnings!
Ath Bilbao vs Real Sociedad Prediction & Betting tips
In Spain it is a tradition on New Year’s Eve that a bunch of grapes must be consumed with every stroke of the bell after 00:00. If you manage to eat just as many grapes with the first twelve chimes, you can look forward to a healthy and happy New Year. Before this custom is applied in many Spanish living rooms from Thursday to Friday night, two La Liga football matches are on the program.
Among other things, there will be the Basque derby between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad. According to the odds, no clear favorite can be identified. The best bookmakers see slight advantages with the guests, but after the last six games without a win in a row, a corresponding bet on San Sebastian would be associated with a certain basic risk.
Especially against the background that Bilbao is usually a very strong team at home and was able to win four of the six matches in their own stadium this season.
On the other hand, however, there is the argument that the blue-whites have already scored eight points more in the course of the season and are still placed well ahead of their Basque rivals in the La Liga table as third. Nevertheless, between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, we dare to predict that a tip on the home win, regardless of which betting market it is placed on, offers the more attractive value.
Athletic Bilbao :
In times of increasing stress control and frequent injury breaks, Inaki Williams is a real specialty. The 26-year-old Athletic Bilbao attacker has played 171 competitive games in a row from April 2016 to the present day, thus equaling Alfredo di Stefano’s record at Real Madrid just before Christmas. On New Year’s Eve, the native Basque now wants to set the only record.
While Williams will certainly have this topic in mind, those responsible for the recently not always undisputed coach Gaizka Garitano are much more concerned with three important points in the fight not to lose touch with the international places. As currently only an unsatisfactory twelfth in the ranking, the white-reds are four points short of sixth.
Hope that a prognosis for the home win between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad could come true on Thursday is primarily made by the home record, which also appears decent in 2020/21. The Basques have won four of the six matches in their own stadium so far. The goal difference of 10: 4 is also a clear indication that “Los Leones” in San Mamés have always been difficult to beat.
In terms of shape, there was also a slight upward trend before Christmas. After only two points from the previous four matches, Bilbao doubled their yield in the home game against Huesca (2-0) and a few days later at the remarkable 1-1 in Villarreal, when they were even leading 1-0 for a long time.
The showpiece of the Garitano-Elf is anyway their own defense, which only stands at 15 goals. On the offensive, however, there is still a problem. 17 goals scored in 14 games are simply not enough for the demands of the eight-time Spanish champions (most recently in 1984). As an alternative, the betting odds on the “Both teams to score – No” can be kept in view between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad. In five of the Basque’s previous six home games, only one of the two teams has ever met. In terms of personnel, the 48-year-old coach can look forward to the return of Asier Villalibre and Alex Berenguer, who will also breathe new life into the offensive.
Real Sociedad :
For a long time, Real Sociedad was one of the positive surprises this season. Although the men from San Sebastian are still in an excellent third place, the momentum has noticeably been lost in recent weeks.
The team of coach Imanol Alguacil, whose contract was extended shortly before Christmas, could not win any of the past six matches. If the first three encounters in this winning series ended at least in a draw, they recently lost three consecutive times, including the top games against Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but also at UD Levante.
Because the white-blue team also had to accept exactly half of all goals they conceded (six of twelve) in the past three games (always two), we would be extremely careful with alluding to the odds of an away win between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad.
Similar to his counterpart, coach Imanol Alguacil can virtually draw on full resources on Thursday. Even the best striker Oyarzabal (seven hits) should return to the starting line-up after muscular problems. Together with ex-Dortmund resident Alexander Isak and veteran David Silva, “La Real” finally wants to return to the road to success with this prominent staff.
Ath Bilbao vs Real Sociedad head to head matches
09.02.20 LL Real Sociedad Ath Bilbao 2 : 1
30.08.19 LL Ath Bilbao Real Sociedad 2 : 0
02.02.19 LL Real Sociedad Ath Bilbao 2 : 1
05.10.18 LL Ath Bilbao Real Sociedad 1 : 3
04.08.18 CF Real Sociedad Ath Bilbao 0 : 1
Betting tips we recommend:
| Prediction: | Both teams to score / YES |
| Selection odds: | 1,95 |
| Bookmaker: |  |
| Free Stream: | |
