The upcoming Basque Derby at San Mamés features contrasting team trajectories. Real Sociedad, now under the leadership of Pellegrino Matarazzo, is experiencing its best season form, having revitalized the team after a poor run under Sergio Francisco. Matarazzo's arrival has transformed the team, leading to an unbeaten streak in La Liga, with wins against top teams like Atlético Madrid, Getafe, Barcelona, and Celta, as well as a Copa victory over Osasuna. His pragmatic, German-influenced coaching style and Italian humor have earned him recognition, including the January coach of the month award. In contrast, Athletic Club, managed by Ernesto Valverde, faces its worst results since his return, with only 24 points after 21 matches—second worst in his ten-year tenure—and a recent streak of just one point from the last five games. The team’s performance has fallen below expectations, leading to questions about Valverde's future despite his support from the club's board and captain Iñaki Williams. The derby, scheduled for Sunday at 21:00, is highly charged, with Athletic fighting to escape relegation zone and Real Sociedad aiming to maintain their winning momentum. Athletic's lineup is heavily impacted by injuries, missing key players like Oihan Sancet and Iñaki Williams, while Real Sociedad faces its own absences, including Take Kubo and Duje Caleta-Car. Matarazzo’s impact has extended to revitalizing players like Álvaro Odriozola, and his successful start has earned him the league's best coach award for January. The match is set to be a tense encounter, with both teams eager to assert their contrasting fortunes in the season.