Real Sociedad and Athletic Club Set for High-Stakes Derby Semi-Final Clash Athletic Club heads into Wednesday’s semi-final showdown against Real Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium with the weight of overturning a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. The Basque side, known as El Txuri-Urdin, enters the match as favorites despite missing key player Nico Williams, who is sidelined due to injury. Manager Ernesto Valverde confirmed to MD that Williams would not be fit to play, while Yuri Berchiche and Aymeric Laporte are also dealing with discomfort, leaving their availability uncertain. On the other hand, Real Sociedad’s Pellegrino Matarazzo revealed that Orri Oskarsson is out of the squad for recovery, though Ander Barrenetxea and Luka Sucic are expected to feature. Both managers hinted that reserve goalkeepers Alex Padilla (Athletic) and Unai Marrero (Real Sociedad) could start, adding an extra layer of uncertainty to the match. Valverde emphasized his team’s focus on executing a plan rather than worrying about the match’s duration. “We don’t care if it’s a long or short match,” he said. “Our priority is to come back. If we don’t concede, we just need to score one. If we do concede, we have to score more. The match will last around 90 minutes, but the outcome depends on how we manage the game.” He also downplayed concerns about conceding two goals on aggregate, noting the absence of the away goals rule. “Now, if we concede two, we have to score more than the opponent. We’ll try to win the game and I don’t expect a close match. We’re going to give it our all to win.” Matarazzo, meanwhile, praised his team’s preparation and energy ahead of the clash. “What I’m feeling is a really good energy, the perfect level of tension,” he said. “We can’t be too tense for an important match.#real_sociedad #athletic_club #anoeta_stadium #er_Nesto_valverde #pellegrino_matarazzo
