Athletic Club secured a 2-1 victory over rivals Real Sociedad in a tense Basque derby on Sunday, November 1. The win at San Mamés ended Real Sociedad’s impressive four-game league winning streak, but the match was overshadowed by a controversial first-half penalty decision that the visitors have formally disputed.
Penalty Dispute Takes Centre Stage
Real Sociedad’s official match report strongly criticised the decisive spot-kick, stating it was “a penalty that never was” and questioning why VAR did not intervene. The club’s statement highlighted that the chip inside the match ball indicated Jon Aramburu made contact with the ball during his challenge on Athletic’s Nico Williams. Real Sociedad coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was visibly frustrated, receiving a booking for dissent in the 65th minute. He expressed his disbelief, stating it was “clearly not a penalty” and that he could not understand VAR’s inaction.
Match Action and Injuries
All three goals in the Bilbao derby arrived before half-time. Nico Williams provided the assist for Athletic’s opening goal. Luka Sučić then equalised for Real Sociedad on the half-hour mark. The victory, Athletic’s third in a row across all competitions, came at a cost. Forward Maroan Sannadi sustained a hamstring injury early in the game, with the club awaiting further assessment. This adds to Athletic’s striker concerns, following Gorka Guruzeta’s serious knee injury in October.
League Standings and Upcoming Fixtures
The win sees Athletic Club climb to seventh in La Liga, placing them two points behind Sevilla. Real Sociedad, despite the defeat, remain in a strong position, though Real Betis are now four points clear of them. Real Sociedad will quickly turn their attention to European action, hosting Olympique Lyonnais in the Europa League league phase on Thursday, November 5. Athletic Club’s next fixture is an away trip to face Osasuna on Saturday, November 7. Athletic also have a game in hand, with their matchday-eight fixture against Rayo Vallecano set to resume behind closed doors on December 9 after being suspended due to objects landing on the field.