Sport WorldBriefFootball Checked story Published 1 November 2026 · Updated 1 Nov, 23:23 UTC

Athletic Club 2–1 Real Sociedad: Iñaki Williams and a Berenguer penalty settle the Basque derby at San Mamés

Athletic Club beat Real Sociedad 2–1 in the Basque derby at San Mamés on Sunday 1 November 2026, in LaLiga Matchday 11 — all three goals before half-time. Iñaki Williams put Athletic ahead in the 14th minute, finishing his brother Nico Williams' defence-splitting pass; Luka Sučić levelled for Sociedad on the half-hour; and Álex Berenguer squeezed a penalty under goalkeeper Álex Remiro in first-half added time, after Nico Williams was brought down by Jon Aramburu, to win the derby. It is Athletic's third successive victory in all competitions, and it ends Sociedad's six-match unbeaten run.

Verified Athletic Club beat Real Sociedad 2–1 at San Mamés on Sunday 1 November 2026 in LaLiga Matchday 11 (2–1 at half-time): Iñaki Williams 14', Luka Sučić 30' and Álex Berenguer, a penalty, in first-half added time (45+2').

Key points

Final: Athletic Club 2, Real Sociedad 1 — the Basque derby, San Mamés, Sunday 1 November 2026 (2–1 at half-time) — the Sportradar match record and Flashscore's report agree.
Scorers: Iñaki Williams 14' (assist Nico Williams), Sučić 30' for Sociedad, Berenguer 45+2' (penalty) for Athletic.
Nico Williams made the opener and won the penalty — the derby turned on the Williams brothers.
Athletic's third straight win in all competitions ends Sociedad's six-match unbeaten run; La Real stay fifth, four points ahead, with Athletic holding a game in hand.

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What happened

The Basque derby rarely needs extra stakes, and this one was settled in a frantic first half: Athletic flew at Sociedad from the start, led, were pegged back by Sučić's strike from distance, and led again by the break through the penalty.

The second half stayed open — Iñaki Williams went close twice, Unai Simón pushed away Carlos Soler's effort with about 20 minutes left, and Sociedad rallied late — but the one-goal lead held, and San Mamés kept the bragging rights.

Both sides, in their own words

Both sides heard. Neither believed for free. Publishing a side's version is not endorsing it — the claim checks below are where verdicts live.

Side A · Athletic Club

The Williams brothers decided the derby between them: Nico created the opener for Iñaki and won the penalty Berenguer converted.
Three straight wins in all competitions, and the unbeaten home run against Sociedad at San Mamés now stretches to six league meetings.

Side B · Real Sociedad

Sučić's equaliser showed La Real could hurt Athletic, and they pushed hard late — Soler twice went close before the final whistle.
Fifth place is still theirs: Sociedad remain four points ahead of Athletic, who hold a game in hand.

Independently verified

Athletic Club beat Real Sociedad 2–1 at San Mamés on Sunday 1 November 2026 in LaLiga Matchday 11 (2–1 at half-time): Iñaki Williams 14', Luka Sučić 30' and Álex Berenguer, a penalty, in first-half added time (45+2'). Nico Williams created the opener — a defence-splitting ball over the top that Iñaki Williams lifted over the onrushing Álex Remiro — and won the winning penalty, brought down by Jon Aramburu before Berenguer squeezed the kick under Remiro. The win is Athletic's third successive victory in all competitions and ends Real Sociedad's six-match unbeaten run in all competitions; Sociedad stay fifth, four points ahead of Athletic, who have a game in hand.

Not yet verified

Nothing outstanding.

Match facts — all verified

✓ VerifiedAthletic Club beat Real Sociedad 2–1 at San Mamés on Sunday 1 November 2026 in LaLiga Matchday 11 (2–1 at half-time): Iñaki Williams 14', Luka Sučić 30' and Álex Berenguer, a penalty, in first-half added time (45+2').Sportradar — Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad match record, LaLiga Matchday 11 (1 Nov 2026) · Flashscore — Athletic Club claim bragging rights in Basque derby after battling past Real Sociedad (1 Nov 2026)
✓ VerifiedNico Williams created the opener — a defence-splitting ball over the top that Iñaki Williams lifted over the onrushing Álex Remiro — and won the winning penalty, brought down by Jon Aramburu before Berenguer squeezed the kick under Remiro.Flashscore — Athletic Club v Real Sociedad match report (1 Nov 2026) · Sportradar — Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad match record (1 Nov 2026)
✓ VerifiedThe win is Athletic's third successive victory in all competitions and ends Real Sociedad's six-match unbeaten run in all competitions; Sociedad stay fifth, four points ahead of Athletic, who have a game in hand.Flashscore — Athletic Club v Real Sociedad match report (1 Nov 2026)

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VerifiedWest Ham United confirmed on Tuesday 3 November 2026 that men's first-team head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has left his position with immediate effect. The club said: 'Following a thorough review of the start to the EFL Championship season, the board of directors believe that a change is necessary at this time in order to ensure that the club's objectives and expectations remain on track.'
VerifiedAssistant head coach Rui Pedro Silva and goalkeeper coach Rui Barbosa have also departed. The process of recruiting a new head coach is already under way; Mark Noble, Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville will take temporary charge of squad preparations ahead of Wednesday evening's EFL Championship fixture at Cardiff City, and the club will make no further comment until the appointment of the new head coach is confirmed.
VerifiedNuno replaced Graham Potter at the London Stadium in September 2025 on a three-year contract, oversaw West Ham's relegation from the Premier League last season — they finished 18th — and was kept on in May to lead the promotion bid. This season West Ham sit eighth in the Championship after 13 games, with back-to-back home defeats sealing his departure: 3–2 by Southampton and then 3–1 by West Brom on Saturday, a third home defeat in seven, after a run of two wins in seven games that followed a 6–0 win over Wrexham at the start of September.

3 verified· 0 disputed· 1 not yet verified· 0 corrected

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VerifiedThe National Sports Commission confirmed on Monday 2 November 2026 that the Super Falcons' players have received — and begun receiving — the naira equivalent of President Bola Tinubu's $100,000-per-player reward pledge, with members of the technical crew receiving the equivalent of $50,000 each, completing the cash component of the reward package for the team's 10th WAFCON title.
VerifiedThe pledge was made at a presidential reception for the team at the State House in Abuja on 28 July 2025, two days after the Super Falcons came from 2–0 down to beat hosts Morocco 3–2 in the WAFCON final in Rabat on 26 July 2025, winning a record-extending 10th continental title; the President approved the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each of the 24 players and $50,000 for each member of the technical team.
VerifiedNSC chairman Shehu Dikko said: 'The Super Falcons made Nigeria proud, and Mr President has honoured his commitment to them in full,' adding that some Nigerian sports heroes had endured years of waiting for promised rewards; team captain Rasheedat Ajibade thanked President Tinubu for keeping his word, describing the payment as recognition of the team's achievement.

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VerifiedSL Benfica beat FC Alverca 1–0 at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on Monday 2 November 2026 in Liga Portugal Matchday 10 (0–0 at half-time): Vangelis Pavlidis scored the only goal, a penalty, in the 51st minute, and the match ended at 90+5 minutes.
VerifiedAlverca matched Benfica's six shots on target: the team statistics read 61% possession to Benfica and 17 shots to 9 overall, but 6 shots on target each, with Benfica goalkeeper Samuel Soares making six saves and Alverca's Matheus Mendes five.
VerifiedThe breakthrough came six minutes after a half-time change: Claudio Echeverri replaced Andreas Schjelderup at the start of the second half, and Pavlidis's penalty followed in the 51st minute.

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