Real Sociedad vs Barcelona Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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After a slow start to the campaign, Real Sociedad appear to be turning things around but they now face a tough test against the rampant Liga leaders, Barcelona, at the Anoeta.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 10th November, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Real Sociedad vs Barcelona may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
REAL SOCIEDAD PREVIEW: THE REAL LA REAL
Real Sociedad have made a habit of starting seasons extremely well before fading in the second-half of the campaign with one of the most intense pressing styles in all of European football but it was an extremely slow start to the campaign this time around.
La Real begin the weekend still in the bottom-half of La Liga but have begun to turn things around in the league. The hosts lost to Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Europa League in midweek but have suffered just one defeat in their last six matches in La Liga.
BARCELONA PREVIEW: BRILLIANT BLAUGRANA
Since the controversial appointment of former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Hansi Flick to replace Xavi Hernandez over the summer, Barcelona have been utterly sensational this season and that continued with a 5-2 win over Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade in midweek.
That UEFA Champions League league phase victory now means the Blaugrana have scored 55 goals in 16 matches across all competitions as they begin the weekend sitting nine points clear at the top-of-the-table in La Liga.
REAL SOCIEDAD TEAM NEWS: SEVERAL ABSENTEES
Summer signing Nayef Ageurd has joined a long-ish Real Sociedad injury list alongside the likes of Benat Turrientes, Ander Barrenetxea and Ham Traore.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Alex Remiro; Jon Aramburu, Igor Zubeldia, Aritz Elustondo, Javi Lopez; Martin Zubimendi; Kubo, Brais Mendez, Sucic, Sergio Gomez; Mikel Oyarzabal
UNAVAILABLE: Ageurd (Injured), Traore (Injured), Pablo Marin (Injured), Benat Turrientes (Injured), Zakharyan (Injured), Ander Barrenetxea (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BARCELONA TEAM NEWS: DEFENSIVE DOUBTS
Barcelona are dealing with a couple of injury doubts for this weekend as Pau Cubarsi was kicked in the head in Belgrade in midweek with Ronald Araujo edging closer to a return.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Inaki Pena; Hector Fort, Sergi Dominguez, Inigo Martinez, Alex Balde; Marc Casado, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski
UNAVAILABLE: Ter Stegen (Injured), Christensen (Injured), Eric Garcia (Injured), Marc Bernal (Injured), Ferran Torres (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Ronald Araujo (Injured), Pau Cubarsi (Injured)
REAL SOCIEDAD VS BARCELONA PREDICTION
Real Sociedad have a reputation for suffocating opponents with an intense press from a box midfield. That means they are often involved in quite low-scoring contests. They could up against a team that are averaging over three goals per game in La Liga this season. Barca are due a game where they aren’t rampant but that doesn’t mean they still aren’t the heavy favourites for this one up in the Basque Country.
REAL SOCIEDAD VS BARCELONA TIP: BARCELONA TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
