Will the Basques defend their lead at the top of the table?
Leaders Real Sociedad welcome the men from Valencia. The visitors are currently the epitome of mediocrity in La Liga. Four wins and four defeats each, as well as five draws, represent a completely balanced interim balance and consequently, tenth place in the 20-team division is occupied by the 2004 UEFA Cup title holders.
The home side, for their part, are having a stellar season so far, not losing another league game since the opening defeat to Barcelona more than a quarter of a year ago! For the match at the Anoeta Stadium between Real Sociedad and Valencia, the prediction is less than 2.5 goals.
Real Sociedad – Statistics & current form
The Basques are mixing up the Spanish top flight even more this season than last year: Last season, they finished a respectable fifth in the final standings, but now there is increasing hope among the white-blue team that they might be able to win the title again after 30 years.
The very good starting position in this endeavour was built up primarily on the defensive side. Only the Basque neighbours from Bilbao and the Andalusians from Seville concede fewer goals than coach Imanol Alguacil’s team. Especially in front of their own backdrop, their own box is efficiently nailed shut: In the six home games they have played, Bilbao alone have scored one goal so far!
Oyarzabal is likely to miss out again
But the “Txuri-Urdin” are currently worried about their offensive. Mikel Oyarzabal, who still leads the club’s scoring charts with six goals, has been missing in recent weeks. Against Valencia, the Spanish international is once again unlikely to make an appearance due to injury.
Hopes are therefore once again pinned on the Swede Alexander Isak. The former BVB attacker successfully took on the additional work in the attack in the meantime: As can be seen from four games in La Liga and in the Europa League between mid and late October, in which he scored in each case.
Although he was unable to strike in the 2-0 win over Osasuna on the last matchday before the international break, bringing the aforementioned streak to an end, without Oyarzabal Isak remains clearly the home side’s strongest player going forward.
Next goal by Isak?
In view of this, betting on Isak to score the next goal of the season in the clash between Real Sociedad and Valencia is also worth a recommendation. Although Belgian attacker Adnan Januzaj scored his long-awaited first goal of the season in the win against Osasuna, it remains to be seen whether this represents a sustained rise in form for the attacker.
Predicted Real Sociedad line-up:
Remiro – Rico – Le Normand – Zaldua – Elustando – Zubimendi – Silva – Merino – Isak – Januzaj – Barrenetxea
Last matches played by Real Sociedad:
LaLiga
11/07 2021 – Osasuna Pamplona 0 – 2 San Sebastian
Europa League Grp. B
11/04 2021 – San Sebastian 1 – 1 Sturm Graz
LaLiga
10/31 2021 – San Sebastian 1 – 1 Athletic Bilbao
10/28 2021 – Celta Vigo 0 – 2 San Sebastian
10/24 2021 – Atletico Madrid 2 – 2 San Sebastian
Valencia – Statistics & current form
The white and black have not been particularly strong away from home so far. Only a victory at Osasuna can be discovered as a sense of achievement by the two-time finalists of the Champions League. Furthermore, three of the four recent away games were lost. The defeats, however, were against top teams such as Betis and FC Sevilla.
A category in which the upcoming opponents, as top of the table, naturally find themselves no less. The “bats” also have a defensive problem. Only the second-last team in the table, Levante, has conceded more goals than coach José Bordalás’ team. On the other hand, the 1980 European Cup Winners’ Cup winner’s attack is working all the better.
Only the Madrilenians score more
The 21 goals after 13 rounds of matches by the 13th-placed team of the past season is topped only by Real Madrid. Valencia’s goal-scoring prowess again stems from their flexibility. Already eleven players have registered as goal scorers in the respective match report sheets.
In view of the recent upturn in form of the players from the Mestalla, as can be seen from a draw against the champions Atletico Madrid and a previous win against Villarreal, the odds on a draw by half-time in the clash between Real Sociedad and Valencia are also interesting. At least in the first half of the game, the visitors should still be able to stand up to the league leaders.
Draws at half-time are almost a Basque rule
The statistics of the Basques’ home games so far also speak in favour of this. Only in one of the six completed home games was there no draw at half-time. The host thus likes to shift up a gear only in the second period and in half of the six home games the victory was wrapped up in the second half.
Predicted line-up of Valencia:
Cillessen – Foulquier – Diakhaby – Alderete – Gaya – Costa – Racic – Guillamon – Wass – Soler – Guedes
Last matches played by Valencia:
LaLiga
11/07 2021 – Valencia 3 – 3 Atletico Madrid
10/30 2021 – Valencia 2 – 0 Villarreal FC
10/27 2021 – Real Betis 4 – 1 Valencia
10/23 2021 – Valencia 2 – 2 Mallorca
10/17 2021 – Barcelona 3 – 1 Valencia
Real Sociedad – Valencia Direct comparison / H2H record
“Reala” and the kickers from the Turia parted in the last direct duel with 2:2 last April in Valencia. The six-time Spanish champions also won the first-leg encounter 1-0 away from home. A look at the recent past also shows that the Basques are not at ease with their upcoming opponents.
The country’s three-time cup winners have won only one of their last eight meetings, most recently in 2020 (1-3-4). Moreover, no less than three of the last four home games against the Blanquinegros have been lost by the hosts.
Real Sociedad – Valencia Tip
With Real’s top striker Oyarzabal missing, the league leaders will have to win games mainly through a solid defence. The home side have internalised this match plan well and are increasingly presenting themselves as a defensive bulwark. Especially on home ground: Five of the six home matches ended with a clean sheet for the Basques.
For this reason, the betting on the match between Real Sociedad and Valencia is aimed at a maximum of two goals by the final whistle. While the defence of “Erreala” is secure, the attack, as described, has room for improvement and is currently strongly tailored to Alexander Isak. However, this focus on the Swede, despite his appealing performances, is too little, which is why the games of the league leaders are low-scoring.
In the six home games, the selected limit of 2.5 goals has not been exceeded once and with an average of 2.2 goals per game, Real has the fourth lowest goal rate in La Liga.
Although the visitors’ games are much higher-scoring, the Murciélagos’ admittedly powerful attack will be less effective against the Basques’ strong defence this time. Moreover, from a statistical point of view, the prediction is supported: two thirds of the past six duels ended with less than 2.5 goals.
