Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde admits the quality of Real Sociedads strikers made the difference in the Basque derby.

La Real won 3-0 as the hosts had eight shots, five of which were on goal, whereas Athletic had 18 attempts in total, hitting the target three times.

"When you see a team has won 3-0, you'd think they'd been far more superior and created more chances, but that wasn't the case," Valverde said in his post-match press conference.

"However, Real Sociedad were more decisive, more clinical and they hit harder. They are great side with good players."

He added: "The game was even. We were both pushing and it seemed like there wouldn't be many goals. They scored the first and we went close to getting an equaliser.

Then they got their second and even after that we had chances to get back into the game. But once they got a third it was complicated."