Ath Bilbao vs Real Sociedad Prediction & Betting Tips (11 February)

24 times crowned in the Copa del Rey, Athletic Bilbao wants to save its season with a title in the competition and thus access the Europa League next year. This is clearly the least evil that the Basques of San Mamés can hope for, literally behind on their main objectives. In La Liga, Bilbao is only 10th with 6 lengths behind the top 6 Espanyol Barcelona while in the Champions League, the adventure has already ended, at the stage of the league phase. In this Copa del Rey, Ernesto Valverde's men beat Valencia to the wire in the quarter-final 1-2. It was already difficult to get rid of Cultural Leonesa D2 in the 1/8th final 3-4 after extra time and Ourense D3 in the 1/16th final 0-1 after extra time. Everything is complicated for the Lions this season, the results, the game, the injuries. But they still managed to regain victory in La Liga last weekend when they received Levante 4-2. A first victory in La Liga since December 6, i.e.

6 days without being able to grab the 3 points including a draw at home against the same Real Sociedad team 1-1. For its part, Real Sociedad was also obliged to leave its comfort zone to seek this place in the last four. In the 1/4 finals, on the Alaves pitch, the decision was made in the last quarter of an hour of play, a 2-3 victory while it was necessary to battle until the penalties against Osasuna in the 1/8th finals. In the 1/16th final, on the pitch of Eldense D3, Sociedad did the bare minimum by winning by a single goal 1-2. Casually, after an unusual start to the season, the Basque team is today difficult to negotiate as they are simply undefeated for 10 games in all competitions and have just enjoyed a very nice success at home in La Liga against Elche 3-1. Furthermore, the men of American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo are the only ones to have beaten FC Barcelona in the league since the end of October 2-1. In the process, they beat Celta Vigo 3-1 and held Bilbao to a draw at San Mamés precisely 1-1. 

Still suspended for doping, Y.Alvarez (defender) will logically not play while the seriously injured like Ben Prados and Egiluz (cruciate ligaments) are out. In addition, the Announced absent for several weeks due to a relapse of his pubalgia, Nico Williams (4 goals, 2 assists in La Liga) is finally fit to play, he who provided an assist on the goal of his big brother Inaki Williams in the 1/4 final against Valencia. Against Levante, Gorka Guruzeta (2 goals in the Copa del Rey) came out of the woodwork with a double. Nico Serrano scored his first goal of the season and Robert Navarro (5 goals, 1 assist in La Liga) concluded the show by scoring the fourth and final goal of the match. Absent from the quarter-final against Alaves, A.Barrenetxea (3 goals, 3 assists in La Liga) and winger Take Kubo are still injured and out of this first leg at San Mamés.

The less important Zakharyan, Lebarbier, Ruperez and replacement goalkeeper Marrero should also be forced to withdraw. Left on the sidelines by his coach for a few games, Jon Karrikaburu found the scoresheet against Elche last weekend. At the heart of this same meeting, Croatian midfielder Luka Sucic, initially a scorer, was forced to prematurely leave his place on the field (uncertain). Scorer in the quarter-finals, captain and Spanish international Mikel Oyarzabal (9 goals in La Liga) will be on deck like former Paris-SG players: G.Guedes (6 goals, 3 assists in La Liga) and Carlos Soler. Let's not forget to mention the presence of Brais Mendez (5 goals, 2 assists in La Liga) who was well rested following his absence in the league against Elche (suspended).