Athletic overpower Sociedad to win Basque derby

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:20 pm

Athletic Bilbao continued their strong start to the season by beating Basque rivals Real Sociedad 2-0 in La Liga on Friday with a dominant performance.

Inaki Williams gave Athletic the lead in the 11th minute by sending a first-time shot crashing into the net to complete a quick move sparked by a throw in.

Raul Garcia extended their advantage in the 28th with a strike from outside the area which looped into the net.

Raul Garcia and Inaki Williams each scored in the first half to help Athletic Bilbao beat Basque rivals Real Sociedad.
David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

Sociedad had a penalty awarded in between the two goals but it was overturned after a VAR review deemed that the foul had taken place outside the area, and things got worse when they lost influential midfielder Asier Illarramendi to injury.

Swedish teenager Alexander Isak did manage to put the ball in the net for the visitors after the interval but the effort was ruled offside after another VAR review.

Athletic continued to overpower their rivals as the minutes ticked by and they comfortably recorded another significant home win after beating Barcelona 1-0 on the opening day of the season, moving on to seven points after three games.

Sociedad have four points.