Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad: Basque derby details, form and viewing information

Athletic Bilbao host Real Sociedad at San Mames on Sunday, 1 November 2026, in the 11th round of the Spanish championship. The Basque rivals meet with Real Sociedad fifth in the table and Athletic Bilbao eighth.

Match details and how to watch

The match will kick off at 20:00 GMT at San Mames.

Broadcast arrangements are as follows:

– France: DAZN or Disney+ – Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport or Canal+ – MENA: beIN Sports – Poland: Canal+ Sport – Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium: DAZN – UK and Ireland: Premier Sports 1 and Premier Sports Player (streaming) – Spain: Movistar+ or DAZN – United States: ESPN+, ESPN Deportes and Fubo TV

Head-to-head record

Athletic Bilbao hold a narrow historical advantage in the fixture. Across 175 meetings in all competitions, they have recorded 68 victories, compared with 62 wins for Real Sociedad. The remaining 45 matches ended in draws, according to Transfermarkt.

Athletic Bilbao have scored 166 goals in those encounters, while Real Sociedad have found the net 87 times.

Recent form, however, favours Real Sociedad. In the last five meetings, Real Sociedad have won three times and the other two matches ended level.

Contrasting league form

Athletic Bilbao’s recent results have been inconsistent. They beat Getafe 4-0, but that victory followed a 3-1 defeat by Levante and three successive draws against Valencia, Alaves and Elche.

The club are eighth with 12 points from nine matches. Their home record and the support at San Mames will be important factors, while they also come into the derby after a commanding 6-1 victory in the Copa.

Real Sociedad have put together a stronger run in LaLiga, winning four of their past five matches. Their victories came against Levante, 2-1; Malaga, 2-5; Deportivo, 3-2; and Valencia, 2-3.

They sit fifth with 19 points. Although they were beaten by Atletico, their attacking form and confidence have remained high.

Prediction and betting odds

The derby is expected to be a closely contested meeting. Athletic Bilbao are traditionally difficult to beat at San Mames and are regarded by bookmakers as the favourites, helped by their attacking strength.

Real Sociedad’s recent 2-1 league win against Levante gives them momentum, and they have enough quality to test Athletic Bilbao’s defence. The match is expected to be closely balanced physically and tactically.

Africafoot’s prediction is a 2-2 draw.

The odds listed for the match are 1.98 for an Athletic Bilbao victory, 3.50 for a draw and 3.00 for a Real Sociedad win.