TBC (Interstat) — Ath Bilbao defeated Real Sociedad 2-1 on Sunday, getting goals from Inaki Williams and Alejandro Berenguer and holding off the visitors after Luka Sucic had equalized. Williams scored in the 14th minute to give Ath Bilbao the lead, and Sucic pulled Real Sociedad level in the 30th. Berenguer supplied what proved to be the winner for Ath Bilbao, whose second goal restored the home side’s advantage and stood up through the rest of the match.

Alejandro Berenguer played 90 minutes and scored once. Luka Sucic played 75 minutes for Real Sociedad and scored once before making way in the 75th minute. Inaki Williams played 90 minutes, scored once and was booked in first-half stoppage time at 45+4. Nico Williams played 89 minutes and provided an assist before being substituted late. Real Sociedad’s disciplinary troubles mounted in the second half. Oyarzabal was booked in the 55th, Sarr in the 64th and Matarazzo in the 65th. Aramburu was booked in the 74th and later substituted in the 88th. Ath Bilbao’s Rincon was booked in the 84th.

Ath Bilbao made an early change in the sixth minute when Sannadi came on. Real Sociedad brought on Barrenetxea in the 62nd minute, then replaced Sucic and Gorrotxategi in the 75th. Aramburu followed in the 88th and Guedes in the 89th. Ath Bilbao introduced Canales in the 77th minute and made three changes in the 89th, bringing on Nico Williams, Navarro and Berchiche. The result gives Ath Bilbao its second win in this competition this season against one loss and two draws. Real Sociedad is now at six wins, four losses and one draw in the competition. Across all competitions, Ath Bilbao stands at four wins, one loss and two draws. Real Sociedad’s overall record is seven wins, eight losses and four draws.

Ath Bilbao had won the most recent head-to-head meeting between the sides, a 1-0 result. Real Sociedad entered after a 2-1 win over Levante, a 6-0 win at Lillestrom, a 5-2 win at Malaga, a 1-1 draw at Royale Union SG and a 3-2 win at Dep. A Coruna. Ath Bilbao had recently beaten Prat 6-1 and Getafe 4-0 but had also lost to Levante 3-1 and drawn with Valencia and Rayo Vallecano. Ath Bilbao also beat Real Sociedad in the previous meeting. The match produced three goals and a flurry of late cards and substitutions, with Real Sociedad making five changes and Ath Bilbao making five. Ath Bilbao protected the one-goal margin after Berenguer’s decisive strike. Real Sociedad pressed for another equalizer but could not find a second goal, and Ath Bilbao closed out the home win.

Real Sociedad’s next scheduled matches include Rayo Vallecano at home in La Liga, Eibar W away in Liga F Women and Athletic at home in Liga F Women. Ath Bilbao’s result followed its recent 6-1 win at Prat and 4-0 home win over Getafe. The game’s three goals came after Ath Bilbao had taken an early lead and Real Sociedad had responded before halftime. Ath Bilbao then held the advantage through a second half marked by four Real Sociedad yellow cards and late substitutions from both benches. Real Sociedad pushed for a late equalizer, but Ath Bilbao’s defense held and the home side took the win.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Ath Bilbao 2, Real Sociedad 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Real Sociedad with a 68.1 percent probability to win. Ath Bilbao had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over-under line of 2.5.