Three points from Friday’s Basque derby would see either Athletic Club or Real Sociedad go top of the early LaLiga Santander table, as well as securing local bragging rights for the coming months.
With both Athletic and La Real having started the season impressively with a win and a draw in their two opening fixtures, the 146th LaLiga meeting between the clubs from the Basque Country’s two biggest cities should be crucial in setting the tone for what could well be excellent seasons for both teams.
Basque derby history is LaLiga history; Athletic Club – who use the English spelling – was founded in 1898 by Bilbao-born engineering students who had studied in the United Kingdom.