"Starting with the hosts, signing off their Champions League nightmare earlier in the week with an action-packed 3-2 loss at home against Sporting Lisbon, Athletic Bilbao are enduring a real crisis. Continuing to tumble down the La Liga standings, the pressure on Ernesto Valverde's shoulders has certainly started to mount. Last seen in La Liga duties falling to a 2-1 defeat away at Sevilla, the Lions have lost each of their previous three consecutive domestic appearances across all competitions by an aggregate score of 10-3."
"Suffering a 5-0 Super Cup drumming at the hands of Barcelona on January 7th, Bilbao have also shown some rather glaring defensive issues. Including another 3-2 loss against Mallorca a fortnight ago, Sunday's hosts have failed to record a single La Liga clean sheet since the start of December. Likewise, Valverde's struggling squad have also shipped at least a pair of goals in all of their last six straight outings."
"As for the visitors, while Real Sociedad might have opened up the 2025/26 campaign in the midst of a public crisis, they have come roaring back since Pellegrino Matarazzo's arrival. Putting in another dominant display last weekend as they stormed their way to a 3-1 victory at home against Celta Vigo, the former Hoffenheim boss finds the mood in his camp at a red-hot high. Skyrocketing up the La Liga table and now with their sights set on booking a lucrative European return, Sunday's guests have won each of their previous four domestic appearances across all competitions."
Athletic Bilbao are in a poor run of form, losing recent matches including a 3-2 home defeat to Sporting Lisbon and a 2-1 loss at Sevilla, with three consecutive domestic defeats by an aggregate 10-3. Bilbao conceded five goals to Barcelona in the Super Cup and have failed to keep a La Liga clean sheet since December, shipping at least two goals in each of their last six matches. Real Sociedad have recovered under Pellegrino Matarazzo, winning four straight domestic games, including 3-1 versus Celta Vigo and a 2-1 comeback over Barcelona, and are pursuing a return to European competition with renewed attacking confidence.
Read at Soccer News
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