Athletic provide derby test as Real Sociedad tune up for Champions League | OneFootball

According to Diario Vasco, Real Sociedad women face Athletic Club in the Euskal Herria Kopa final at Stadium Gal at 19:00 on EITB, a derby tune-up before their Champions League qualifier against Chelsea on Thursday 26 in Wimbledon. The fixture is friendly in name, though derbies rarely feel that way.

Athletic reached the final after beating Alavés 3-0 in the semi-final, with goals from Zugasti, Valero and Nerea.

Real needed penalties to see off Eibar after a 1-1 draw, Ainhoa Marín scored in normal time and Julia Arrula starred in a 4-1 shootout win.

In Liga F last season, Athletic finished seventh, four places and 22 points behind Real Sociedad. Real ended third, behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, and could reach the Champions League group stage if they eliminate Chelsea.

Coach Arturo Ruiz is bedding in six summer arrivals, although Chile forward Sonyt Keefe remains sidelined for this match. María Molina and Maren Lezeta are also out, while Cecilia Marcos is a doubt.

The other new faces expected to feature include defender Esther Laborde, midfielder Ainoa Campo and forwards Ainhoa Marín and Ava Seelenfreund.

The clubs met in this fixture in 2024, Real won on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Athletic lifted the trophy in 2023 with a 4-2 victory in Lezama and have nine EH Kopa titles to Real’s four.

Pre-season signs for Real have been positive, not least an away draw with Olympique Lyonnais. A win over Athletic would be the ideal springboard into Chelsea.

Source: Diario Vasco

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”