Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club Prediction: Oyarzabal can continue hot streak

Sunday's prime-time clash in La Liga could be a humdinger as Real Sociedad take on Athletic Club in the Basque derby with both clubs in need of the points to enhance their European ambitions, as well as the small matter of the bragging rights (20:00, Premier Sports 2).

In my Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club predictions below, I pick out my best bets for this huge La Liga clash, which will be played at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian.

Team News

Real Sociedad will be without defenders Igor Zubeldia and Alvaro Odriozola as well as midfielder Arsen Zakharyan through injury, while forward Orri Oskarsson is also a doubt.

Football Odds

However, on-loan West Ham centre-back Nayef Aguerd should be available after a month on the sidelines.

Athletic Club are still without their top scorer, Oihan Sancet, for the trip to San Sebastian, while Oscar de Marcos is a doubt.

Dani Vivian will be available as his suspension applies only to the Europa League, and Unai Simon should return between the sticks.

However, boss Ernesto Valverde is likely to rotate ahead of Thursday's trip to Old Trafford, with his side needing to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit.

Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club Odds

Real Sociedad are the 6/4 favourites armed with home advantage, implying a 40% probability, while Athletic Club are the 21/10 outsiders with the draw at 2/1.

Goals are hardly expected to be plentiful with under 2.5 priced at 8/15 and over at 6/4, while both teams to score is on offer at 11/10 with at least one clean sheet installed at 8/11.

Match Result - Real Sociedad @ 6/4

While there is the obvious rivalry between these two Basque sides, bragging rights are not the only factor at play in this one with Athletic looking to make sure of their qualification for the Champions League.

Although Europe's elite competition looks beyond the reach of the hosts, who sit down in 11th place in the La Liga standings, they have realistic chances of continental action next season, provided they finish strongly.

La Real are only two points behind Osasuna in eighth and two more behind Celta Vigo in seventh, so they will be going all out for the win, particularly with no other distractions and a trip to Atletico Madrid next up.

Although their recent form is hardly inspiring, a derby battle can focus their minds, and home advantage has been key of late in this historic rivalry. The home side have won each of the last six derbies, while La Real have not lost to Athletic at the Anoeta since 2017, a run of seven games which includes five wins for the hosts.

The Txuri-Urdin have won the last two derbies at the Anoeta by an aggregate score of 6-1 despite losing their last four at San Mames, and Imanol Alguacil knows how to make home advantage count - with the added incentive of this being his final season at the helm.

Athletic have too many distractions to be trusted, particularly with rotation expected ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg at Old Trafford, while a six-point cushion to sixth-placed Real Betis offers plenty of leeway for Champions League qualification with five games left and a relatively easy run-in.

The Lions have won only one of their last nine away games in all competitions, and have failed to score in the last three, so the more-desperate hosts look good value at 6/4 to secure the win.

Anytime Goalscorer - Mikel Oyazarbal (RSO) @ 5/2

This game might not be a classic, and a far from free-flowing affair is expected, but someone needs to score to secure the win and Mikel Oyarzabal looks fantastic value to find the back of the net on Sunday.

The Spain international has bagged 20 goals in 54 appearances this season, but six of those have come in his last six outings for La Real, while he bagged a brace for La Roja prior to that run.

As his side's penalty-taker also, he looks far too big to ignore at 5/2 to continue his hot streak, having also scored in each of the last two home Basque derbies.

Offers

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