Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad 2-1

Athletic Club beat Real Sociedad 2-1 at San Mamés Stadium, and all three goals came before half-time. Iñaki Williams put the hosts ahead, Luka Sučić levelled for the visitors, then Alex Berenguer converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time to settle it.

Athletic opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Iñaki Williams finished from Nico Williams for 1-0. Real Sociedad answered in the 30th minute through Luka Sučić, and the scoreline was level at 1-1 before Alex Berenguer made it 2-1 from the spot in the 45th minute, two minutes into first-half stoppage time. That was the half-time score.

There were no further goals after the break, but the match changed through stoppages and substitutions. Athletic made their first change in the 6th minute, bringing on Robert Navarro Muñoz for Maroan Sannadi, while Real Sociedad sent on Orri Steinn Óskarsson for Ander Barrenetxea in the 61st minute. Real Sociedad then made two changes together in the 75th minute, with Takefusa Kubo replacing Luka Sučić and Benat Turrientes coming on for Jon Gorrotxategi. Athletic made three changes in the 89th minute, including Johaneko Louis-Jean for Robert Navarro Muñoz, Oihan Sancet for Nico Williams and Yeray Álvarez for Yuri Berchiche, and they saw out the one-goal lead to full time.

The numbers showed Real Sociedad had more of the ball, with 62% possession, 591 passes and eight corners, compared with Athletic’s 38%, 366 passes and five corners. The visitors also had more shots on target, 4-3, but Athletic posted 2.97 expected goals to Real Sociedad’s 0.93 and finished with the same 13 shots. Athletic also had 3 saves to Real Sociedad’s 1, while the foul count was 11-13.

Bookings were spread across both sides. Athletic received two yellow cards, for Iñaki Williams in the 45+4th minute and Hugo Rincón Lumbreras in the 84th minute. Real Sociedad had three bookings, for Mikel Oyarzabal in the 55th minute, Mamadou Sarr in the 64th minute and Jon Aramburu in the 74th minute. There were no red cards.