Sports · Football · 2 hrs ago
Athletic beat Real Sociedad 2-1 in disputed Basque derby
Athletic beat Real Sociedad 2-1 in a Basque derby at San Mamés in Bilbao.
The winning goal came from Alex Berenguer’s penalty, awarded after a challenge involving Real Sociedad’s Jon Mikel Aramburu and Athletic’s Nico Williams.
Referee Alejandro José Hernández Hernández said he judged the contact to be a clear foul from his position on the pitch.
The VAR team upheld the decision, saying there was no clear and obvious error that required the referee to review it.
Real Sociedad said the penalty was wrongly given and blamed the decision for its defeat.
The result gave Athletic three points, while the referee’s explanation and the club’s public criticism kept the disputed call at the centre of attention.
Athletic beat Real Sociedad 2-1 in the Basque derby, with Alex Berenguer converting a penalty.
The penalty awarded after a challenge on Nico Williams became the main point of dispute.
The referee said he considered the contact punishable and that the VAR team confirmed his decision.
Real Sociedad said the penalty was wrongly given and blamed it for the defeat.
The match was played on November 1, according to the reports.
- Who
- Athletic and Real Sociedad.
- What
- Athletic won 2-1 in the Basque derby. Alex Berenguer scored from the disputed penalty.
- When
- November 1, 2026.
- Where
- San Mamés, according to Marca; Mundo Deportivo describes the match as having been played in Lezama.
- Why
- The referee awarded Athletic a penalty after a challenge on Nico Williams. Real Sociedad disputed the decision, but VAR confirmed it.
The referee and VAR
Real Sociedad
Penalty decision
The referee and VAR
The referee said he considered the contact on Nico Williams punishable and that the VAR team confirmed his decision.
Real Sociedad
The club said the penalty did not exist and that the referee had seen something that had not happened.
VAR review
The referee and VAR
The referee said VAR found no clear and manifest error requiring him to change the decision.
Real Sociedad
The club said VAR should have intervened but did not.
Athletic beat Real Sociedad 2-1 in the Basque derby.
The referee explained that he considered the contact on Nico Williams punishable and that VAR confirmed his decision.
Real Sociedad publicly said the penalty was wrongly awarded and criticized VAR for not intervening.
- Final score
- Athletic 2-1 Real Sociedad
- Penalty scorer
- Alex Berenguer
- Fouled player
- Nico Williams
- Defender involved
- Jon Mikel Aramburu
- Referee
- Alejandro José Hernández Hernández
- Disputed venue descriptions
- San Mamés in Marca; Lezama in Mundo Deportivo
19 sources
"Para mí fue penalti claro", dice el árbitro del derbi Athletic-Real
La Real denuncia en su web a Hernández Hernández: "Ha visto lo que no ha sucedido"
Matarazzo: “No entiendo por qué el VAR no ha intervenido y anulado el penalti”
Une première depuis près de deux ans : l'Athletic Bilbao s'offre la Real Sociedad en Liga
Il derby basco è dell'Athletic. Siviglia ko, Valencia prima gioia
Unglücklich, aber doch glücklich: Berenguer-Elfer zum 2:1
تقديم مباراة أتلتيك بيلباو وريال سوسيداد
What people are saying
For me on the field, at that moment, it was a clear penalty
The referee has seen what did not happen and VAR did not want to intervene
Real did not deserve to lose tonight at San Mamés. If it did, it was because of a penalty that was not one.
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