Athletic Club – Real Sociedad: Terzic exploits Sociedad’s defensive references before shutting down their comeback (2–1)

Athletic Club defeated Real Sociedad 2–1 in a Basque derby shaped by contrasting tactical phases, as Edin Terzic’s side dominated the opening half hour before Pellegrino Matarazzo found solutions through midfield overloads and wide rotations. Athletic ultimately secured the victory through a decisive adjustment after half-time, reorganising their defensive structure to limit Sociedad’s central combinations and protect their lead.

Tactical analysis and match report by Sebastián Parreño.

Both teams entered the game with distinct approaches in possession and out of possession. Athletic used Terzic’s familiar 3-2-5 attacking structure, with Nico Williams on the left, his brother Iñaki occupying the left half-space, and Robert Navarro, Álex Berenguer and right-back Hugo Rincón providing different attacking positions and width on the opposite side. Without the ball, Athletic defended in a 4-4-2, although their zonal references and some individual defensive errors would later give Sociedad opportunities to progress.

Real Sociedad, meanwhile, pressed man-to-man from a high block, but without the intensity usually associated with Matarazzo’s team. When they dropped into a mid-block, they defended in a 4-4-2. Their defensive structure could also become a back five when Rincón advanced to provide width and Berenguer moved inside, with Barrenetxea recovering into the defensive line and Sergio Gómez becoming a third centre-back.

However, Sociedad’s adjustments were not always suited to the areas Athletic wanted to attack. Terzic concentrated much of his team’s attacking play on the left, where Nico Williams repeatedly threatened to isolate his marker. Matarazzo responded by bringing Barrenetxea inside to support Berenguer, while Sergio . . .