Real Sociedad fought back to claim a long-coveted 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Friday in the 66th and final Basque Country derby to be played at the San Mames.
Bilbao bossed the opening stages of the match and went ahead through Ibai Gomez’s vicious volley at the half-hour mark.
However, Antoine Griezmann headed Sociedad level four minutes later and striker Imanol Agirretxe then gave the visitors the lead in the 66th thanks to an error by goalkeeper Raul Fernandez. Substitute Carlos Vela scored 10 minutes later.
Photo: EPA
Sociedad’s first win at Bilbao since 2001 provisionally lifted them into fifth place in La Liga tables. Philippe Montanier’s side is on a seven-game unbeaten streak and have only one loss in the past 15 rounds.
“It had been a long time,” Sociedad veteran Xabi Prieto said. “We came in playing well so we knew it was possible and we are leaving in great spirits.”
Inaugurated in 1913, San Mames is scheduled to be torn down after 100 years and replaced by a new stadium at the end of this season.
The first Basque Country derby was played here in 1929. The final tally for derbies at the stadium rests at 37 wins for Bilbao, 12 wins for Sociedad and 17 draws.
Prieto remained cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances of making a top-six finish and qualifying for either the Champions League or the Europa League next season.
“We will see. We are playing well,” he said. “We are near the top now and on a very good run.”
Bilbao’s third straight defeat left Marcelo Bielsa’s team in 15th place and just six points from the relegation zone.
Bilbao could not have asked for a better start, with Gomez smashing Jon Aurtenetxe’s cross into the top of the net after Aritz Aduriz and Mikel San Jose had both come close with headers.
However, Sociedad responded in perfect fashion, with Chori Castro picking out Griezmann floating free at the far post to turn his lobbed pass into the net.
Both defenses then appeared to have settled down until Fernandez, Bilbao’s little-used goalkeeper, gifted Sociedad the goal that proved to be the winner. Fernandez failed to pull in or punch out a routine cross that bounced off his chest, letting Agirretxe send the ball ricocheting off both players before it trickled over the goal line.
“It was one of those lapses that in the first division costs you a goal,” said Fernandez, who made his second straight start in place of longtime starter Gorka Iraizoz, who was benched for his irregular play.
With Bilbao demoralized, Vela sealed the result with a shot just inside the upright for his 11th goal of the season.
After the final whistle blew, the Sociedad players went to the corner of the pitch where their fans were seated to celebrate the win.
“Not many of our fans could make it because there weren’t many tickets on sale, but those who did were well compensated,” Prieto said.
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