Basque derby

Although Real Sociedad: This weekend’s Basque Derby between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad could be worth much more than just three points and a week’s worth of bragging rights, given that the two clubs are locked in a fierce battle for European qualification.

At the halfway stage of the league season, Real Madrid and Girona FC have distanced themselves from their pursuers at the top, but the battle to qualify for Europe is wide open and Los Rojiblancos and Los Blanquiazules are going to be at the heart of this fight.

Real Sociedad returned to the Champions League this season for the first time since 2013/14, that is 10 years ago. Athletic Club, meanwhile, haven’t played in European competition since the 2017/18 campaign, when they played in the Europa League and were defeated in the Round of 16 by Marseille.