Prediction and odds for the game: Real Sociedad (10/3) v Barcelona (7/10)
We are backing the away (sorry boring we know).
When: Saturday 14th December 2019, Kick-off 3 PM
Where: The Reale Arena
On Saturday afternoon, reigning La Liga champions Barcelona face a test of their recent good form as they travel to San Sebastian to face Real Sociedad.
Real Sociedad
La Real are unlikely to be easy opponents for Ernesto Valverde’s team. The home side currently occupy the final Champions League spot in the Spanish top-flight.
However, their form has drifted slightly in recent matches, as the boys from San Sebastian have won just once in four league outings. Last time out they drew 0-0 at Real Valladolid. The draw ended a five-game run of matches in which both teams had scored for Sociedad in La Liga.
Real Sociedad’s recent home form has been a bit of a mixed bag, as a record of two wins from their last away matches in La Liga illustrates. They are always an attacking threat on home soil, though, as La Real have scored in 11 of their last 12 leagues matches. Both teams have also scored in the home side’s last five La Liga matches at the Reale Arena.
Barcelona
The reigning champions head into this game with confidence high after a six-match winning run in all competitions, with four of those wins coming in La Liga. Last time out, the Catalan giants recorded a 2-1 win at Italian giants Inter in the Champions League.
The visitors recent run of form has kept them top of La Liga. However, only goal difference separates Valverde’s team from second place arch-rivals Real Madrid. The pressure is now on to keep winning their games to stay ahead of the team from the Spanish capital.
Barcelona’s away record in La Liga has improved greatly over the last few months after some poor performances on their travels in the opening weeks of the campaign. In fact, Valverde’s team has now won four of their last five matches on their travels in the Spanish top-flight.
The visitor’s recent away games have been relatively high-scoring in La Liga, with over 2.5 goals scored in three of their last four away matches.
The reigning champions are unbeaten in eight meetings with Real Sociedad in all competitions, having won the last six games against La Real. The Catalan giants have also been prolific against the home side in recent meetings, scoring at least twice in five of the last six meetings.
Conclusion
Real Sociedad’s form has not been great of late and they look to be facing Barcelona at a bad time, especially as a number of their key players were given a midweek rest, which is why we are backing the away win.
The other bet is slightly harder, as neither both teams to score or the over 2.5 goals offer very little value. Therefore, we are taking a punt on La Real forward William Jose to score at anytime at odds of 19/10.
Verdict: Back the away win at odds of 7/10 and/or William Jose to score at anytime at odds of 19/10. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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Will Barcelona’s good form continue against Real Sociedad?
