Real Sociedad head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo has dismissed any notion of playing cautiously in Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against fierce Basque rivals Athletic Club, declaring his side will not arrive in Bilbao "with the handbrake on." As the two historic teams prepare to clash at San Mames, Matarazzo emphasized an aggressive mindset for the two-legged tie, prioritizing performance and intensity over defensive caution.

Confidence Built on Strong Away Form

La Real enter the fixture on the back of impressive form, both in the competition and across all competitions. After securing their spot in the semi-finals with a 3-2 victory over Alavés, Real Sociedad have now registered four of their five wins this Copa del Rey campaign on the road. They are currently riding their best-ever unbeaten away streak in the competition—14 matches with a record of 12 wins and 2 draws—while keeping clean sheets in 10 of their last 14 away games. Remarkably, the team has kept 20 clean sheets in their last 30 away Copa del Rey matches, matching the total from their previous 59 such fixtures.

Matarazzo’s side has also been resilient in 2024, remaining unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions (5 wins, 3 draws). Only Lyon under Paulo Fonseca have managed a better unbeaten run this year, with nine wins in as many games.

No Retreat in the First Leg

With the first leg setting the stage for the semifinal, Matarazzo made it clear that Real Sociedad’s objective remains a positive result from the outset. When asked if they would adopt a conservative approach due to the two-leg format, he replied firmly, "No, we're playing because we want the best possible result. We have 180 minutes to play, and the game isn't over after 90 minutes, but we have to get the best possible result and the best possible performance from our team, and that's our mentality."

He continued, "If we're too cautious or careful, there's a risk we won't be competitive enough to withstand the pressure at San Mames. Therefore, we have to go there with intensity and connection. We have to keep doing all the things that have made us strong in recent weeks, because otherwise, we won't function very well."

Historical Rivalry and High Stakes

This marks the 11th Copa del Rey knockout tie between the two Basque powerhouses. Athletic Club hold the historical edge, having advanced in seven of the previous 10 encounters. However, Real Sociedad have claimed the last two, most notably in the 2020 final, where a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty secured a 1-0 victory.

Former Athletic striker Fernando Llorente acknowledged the pressure on the home side to capitalize on the opportunity. "It’s a special match because of the respect and the great atmosphere. The competition is fierce; it’s a very hard-fought derby," he said. "Real Sociedad has changed and is playing very well since Matarazzo arrived. Athletic is coming off a Champions League elimination, but reaching the Cup semi-finals has the fans very excited. The possibility of reaching the final by beating Real Sociedad would be even sweeter."

With injuries impacting Athletic's recent performances, Llorente stressed the importance of returning to full strength: "Athletic needs to turn things around after their recent performances. They need to play to their full potential. There have been a lot of injuries."

As the Basque derby heats up on the national stage, Real Sociedad’s fearless approach under Matarazzo could prove pivotal in their quest to reach the final of Spain’s premier cup competition.