Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Real Sociedad Highlights, Copa del Rey 2025-26: Turrientes' Solitary Goal Help La Real Win

Good evening and welcome, football lovers. Semi-final leg 1 of Copa del rey has Athletic Bilbao hosting Real Sociedad in the iconic Basque derby at the San Mames. Stay with us for the build-up and live updates.

Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad, Copa Del Rey 2025-26 quarter-final will be streamed on the FanCode app and website from 1:30 AM in India.

• Total matches: 195

• Athletic Bilbao won: 80

• Real Sociedad won: 52

• Draws: 63

Kick-off Time: 21:00 CET (Local) / 01:30 IST (Feb 12)

Venue: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao ("The Cathedral")

Stage: Copa del Rey Semifinal – First Leg

Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez

Weather: Expected to be around 11°C with a high chance of light rain—classic "Basque weather" that often favors the physical style of the home side.

Athletic Bilbao Starting XI: Álex Padilla, Adama Boiro, Aymeric Laporte, Iker Monreal, Íñigo Lekue, Alejandro Rego, Iñaki Williams, Mikel Jauregizar, Robert Navarro, Unai Gómez, Gorka Guruzeta.

Substitutes: Unai Simón, Nico Williams, Jesús Areso, Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta, Andoni Gorosabel, Nico Serrano, Urko Izeta, Aimar Duñabeitia, Selton Sanchez, Eder Garcia, Mikel Vesga.

Real Sociedad Starting XI: Álex Remiro, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Jon Aramburu, Jon Martín, Sergio Gómez, Beñat Turrientes, Carlos Soler, Gonçalo Guedes, Jon Gorrotxategi, Pablo Marín, Mikel Oyarzabal.

Substitutes: Yangel Herrera, Álvaro Odriozola, Wesley, Brais Méndez, Dani Diaz, Aihen Muñoz, Aitor Fraga, Job Ochieng, Igor Zubeldia, Aritz Elustondo, Orri Óskarsson.

The match is underway. The hosts have started the game on the front foot, controlling the ball as they look to have their first look at the Sociedad goal. Rego wins them a free-kick on the halfway line, as he is caught by Soler.

Real Sociedad boast the superior record between the two sides in LaLiga this season, having come away as 3-2 winners in November, before the sides drew 1-1 earlier this month.

It has been a competitive game from the start. Inaki Williams has had the first shot towards goal on the edge of the box, but his powerful strike was easily blocked by Caleta-Car. Meanwhile, Oyarzabal tries beat Monreal, eventually winning a corner.

Guruzeta misses a big chance to go ahead! Inaki Williams chips in a cross toward the striker, who is waiting in the centre of the box, where he heads it towards goal, but it is straight at Remiro, who easily claims it in his gloves. Minutes earlier, Sociedad were claiming for a penalty after Jauregizar tackled Carlos Soler. Eventually referee said play on.

Real Sociedad get a big chance. Pablo Marin bursts through the centre of the opposition half, as he finds himself one-on-one with Alex Padilla, with the Mexican doing well to make himself big and save Marin's shot from close range.

An action packed first half comes to an end. Both teams have tried to open the scoring but didn't succeed in the end. Athletic Bilbao have not been able to open much and Gorka Guruzeta's header has been the solitary chance they could register. Meanwhile, in the dying minutes of the half, Real Sociedad appeal for a handball from Aymeric Laporte but in vain, as referee checks VAR and waves it off. Lot to come in second half.

The second Copa del Rey semifinal kicks off tonight, February 12, 2026, as Atlético Madrid hosts defending champions FC Barcelona at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

This heavyweight first-leg clash sees a depleted Barça side—missing both Marcus Rashford and Raphinha—attempting to secure an advantage before the return leg at the Camp Nou in March.

Real Sociedad create the first chance of the second half. Oyarzabal takes a shot at goal from inside the box. It is saved by Padilla, but falls back to Marin, just yards out from goal, where he sends it straight onto the post, giving Athletic Bilbao another big let off.

Athletic Bilbao concede and it looked like they will throughout the first half. Real Sociedad were the better side and they deservedly took the lead. Benat Turrientes is the one to score from inside the box from an assist of Goncalo Guedes. Soler opened up the goal to Guedes, who flicked the ball to the path of open Turrientes, who had put in a simple tap in.

Athletic Bilbao try to get back in to the game but Nico Williams' header misses the goal. Just a minute earlier, Serrano won his side a corner, as he shielded the ball inside the box and released a shot at goal, which Martin negotiated for a corner. But the set piece yielded nothing fruitful.

Athletic keep trying to make their way back into the game. Laporte drills an effort from range, but it slowly drifts far wide of the target. Guruzeta links up well with Williams inside the box, but Martin does well to get back and stop him. Time is running out for the hosts.

Real Sociedad secure a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao and they will now enter the second leg with a 1-0 lead in aggregate. Sociedad were the better side throughout the game with Mikel Oyarzabal and Pablo Marin troubling Álex Padilla repeatedly. On the other hand, Athletic have not been able to open up Sociedad easily. The Williams brother got two chances, but that was about it. Goncalo Guedes played well for Sociedad as well and he created the goal for Turrientes along with Carlos Soler. Athletic will now have a tough task in hand to come back in the return leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.