SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (Interstat) — A crucial Basque derby is set for Saturday as Athletic Bilbao visits regional rival Real Sociedad in a La Liga match at the Reale Arena.

The visitors enter the contest with a 4-4-2 league record, sitting mid-table. Their form, however, is a concern after a 1-0 home loss to Getafe last Saturday snapped a four-match unbeaten run in all competitions that included a notable 1-0 victory over Real Madrid.

Real Sociedad, struggling near the bottom of the table with a 2-6-2 league record, seeks to build on a rare positive result. La Real is coming off a 3-0 win over Negreira in a midweek cup match and a 2-1 league victory over Sevilla prior to that, offering a glimmer of hope after a difficult start to the season.

Historically one of Spanish football’s most intense rivalries, this match pits two clubs with divergent recent trajectories against one another. Athletic Bilbao will look to rediscover its defensive solidity, while Real Sociedad hopes its attack, led by the in-form Takefusa Kubo, can continue its recent output.

According to the Interstat game simulator, the match is projected to end in a 1-1 draw. The result could provide a vital point for Sociedad’s survival hopes or help Bilbao stabilize its campaign.