Real Sociedad vs Barcelona Prediction & Tips
Real Sociedad conceded a goal in the 91st minute in their visit to Rayo Vallecano last weekend (2-2) and missed their fifth win in six league matches. Imanol Alguacil’s side are in fifth place at the start of the 12th round of LaLiga EA Sports (LL), when they host FC Barcelona, who are five points clear. Winners of their last meeting with Barça in May, the Txuri-urdin side face a team against which they have won only once in the 21st century in LL.
The Reale Arena, a fortress: Real are on a 15-match unbeaten run at home in LL (G10, E5), the last four of which have been victories. In the ten most recent matches of that brilliant run, the San Sebastian side have opened the scoring, something they have not done in their three previous league clashes at their home ground against the Azulgranas.
Xavi Hernandez’s side will be looking to turn the page after the disappointment of a clásico in which Real Madrid turned the scoreline around and won with two late goals (FCB 1-2 RM). While that is Barça’s only official defeat so far this season, they have been held to draws in three of the last five LL matches (G2, E2, P1). Four points behind Madrid, leaders at the start of this matchday, the reigning LL champions face one of the most difficult outings of the campaign with no margin for error.
Visiting the Reale Arena is a real challenge for any club, but Barça faces it without having lost in any of its last 12 trips to the Basque Country in LL (G9, E3). Four of the nine wins in that series have come under Xavi, whose players will do well to come out with maximum concentration after conceding the opening goal in the first ten minutes of their last two away LL matches, both of which ended in 2-2 draws.
Players to watch: Mikel Oyarzabal, scorer of Real Sociedad’s last two LL goals, scored in the 5th min to give the Txuri-urdin side their last home league win over Barça (April 2016). After missing three games due to injury and playing in the second half of the Clasico, Robert Lewandowski is expected to be part of Barça’s starting XI at the Reale Arena, where the Polish striker signed a brace last season (RS 1-4 FCB).
Key stat: Going into this LL matchday, Barça has the highest average number of corners in favor (6.6 p. p.), but Real Sociedad averages the lowest number of corners against (3.6 p. p.).
Real Sociedad – Barcelona FREE TIPS
OVER 2.5 GOALS @ 2.25
