International break brings Anoeta derby, a final that is never just a friendly | OneFootball

There is no La Liga or Europe, yet Anoeta stages a derby final tonight. Real Sociedad face Athletic in the Euskal Herria Txapela, a friendly but never treated as one, with only the lower tier open. It is at Anoeta because Real collected the most points in last season's Basque derbies.

Diario Vasco reports that Real will lean on a second string, with nine internationals away and Zubeldia and Odriozola injured. A likely XI is Marrero, Fort, Beitia, Pacheco, Aihen, Gorrotxategi, Turrientes, Soler, Zakharyan, Guedes and Barrenetxea.

For Zakharyan, Fort and Pacheco this feels pivotal. The Russian playmaker needs a run to reveal his talent, Fort must move on from his dire outing against Bournemouth, and left-footed centre-back Pacheco hopes to earn Matarazzo’s trust.

Terzic is expected to give minutes to lesser-used players such as Rego, Prados, Johaneko, Serrano and Maroan. Five internationals are out, Nico Williams, Unai Simón, Laporte, Álex Padilla and Djaló. The goalkeepers, Mikel Santos and Simón García, are from the reserves.

Matarazzo and Terzic renew a Bundesliga rivalry of five games. Matarazzo won once, 2-3 with Hoffenheim at Dortmund, and lost the other four, three with Hoffenheim and one with Stuttgart. They meet again in La Liga on 31 October or 1 November at San Mamés.

Entry is free for Real members, Athletic members pay 15 euros, public sale 30, under-10s 10. Visiting fans are in the North Stand. An outlet runs 17:00 to 20:00 at gate 8, plus a tribute to Mikel Etxarri.

Source: Diario Vasco

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