Will Kovac’s side secure early group victory?
AS Monaco lead Group B of the Europa League with eight points out of a possible twelve and are making great strides towards the knockout rounds. If the team from the principality can now record a home victory over Real Sociedad, the group victory and the associated direct entry into the last 16 would be in the bag.
Niko Kovac’s team should be motivated in this match, especially as it is also a matter of shaking off a short dry spell of four consecutive games without a win. In the run-up to the second leg between Monaco and Real Sociedad, the odds are slightly in favour of the Rouge et Blancs.
However, the Basques are also extremely difficult to beat. Real Sociedad won just one game in Group B, but played to a draw in their other three encounters – including a 1-1 draw with the Monégasques.
Still, Erreala’s form of late has not been overly impressive.
Monaco – Statistics & current form
AS Monaco returned to international show business this summer in fifth place in Ligue 1, having missed out for a second successive season in most unfortunate fashion the year before, partly due to France’s season-ending drop.
After failing to reach the knockout stages of the Europa League in their only appearance in the competition so far in 2015/16, the Monégasques are fully on course at their second attempt. A home win over Real Sociedad would put the Rouge et Blancs beyond the reach of early group winners.
Four consecutive competitive games without a win
At least the national momentum speaks against Niko Kovac’s team. In Ligue 1, the Principality side have picked up just two points from a possible nine in their last three league games, leaving them a sobering ninth in the table, already 18 points behind leaders PSG.
Coupled with a goalless draw at home to PSV Eindhoven, this means the Monégasques are winless in four consecutive competitive games (three draws, one defeat) and will not be going into the home game against the Basques in too much form.
Eight of last eleven international home games lost
Curious, meanwhile, is the fact that things just haven’t been going right at the Stade Louis II in particular lately. Since the Rouge et Blancs stormed into the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2016/17 season, also due to their home strength, eight of the subsequent eleven international home games have been lost.
Nevertheless, on balance, there is much to suggest that tip 1 will work out for Monaco against Real Sociedad and that the Monégasques will end this dry spell by winning their group and progressing directly to the last 16 of the Europa League. After all, in the two group games of the 2021/22 season, Kovac’s eleven have yet to concede a goal at home with four points out of a possible six.
Predicted line-up of Monaco:
Nübel – Henrique – Pavlovic – Disasi – Aguilar – Diop – Fofana – Tchouaméni – Diatta – Boadu – Volland
Last matches played by Monaco:
Ligue 1
11/19 2021 – AS Monaco 2 – 2 Lille
11/07 2021 – Reims 0 – 0 AS Monaco
Europa League Grp. B
11/04 2021 – AS Monaco 0 – 0 PSV Eindhoven
Ligue 1
10/31 2021 – Brest 2 – 0 AS Monaco
10/24 2021 – AS Monaco 3 – 1 Montpellier
Real Sociedad – Statistics & current form
Real Sociedad de Fútbol are two-time Spanish champions and already finished five matchdays out of the 2021/22 La Liga season on the sunny side of the table. With teams such as FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid failing to produce results, it thus appeared, at least briefly, that the Basques could challenge for the championship again for the first time.
Most recently, however, Imanol Alguacil’s selection has been a bit off track again. It is true that Erreala has remained unbeaten for 17 consecutive league games. Just last weekend, however, important points were lost again in a dreary 0-0 draw against a pale Valencia. In the meantime, Real Madrid are back at the top of the table, relegating the Basques to second place.
Only two wins in the last six competitive matches
Only four of Erreala’s last six competitive matches have ended in a draw. What was still a success away at Atlético Madrid despite a squandered 2-0 lead was a setback in the Europa League with a 1-1 draw at home to Sturm Graz, as were the two draws against Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby and most recently at home to Valencia.
In other words, the overall winner of the Copa del Rey 2020 is certainly ambitious and well-positioned. But Erreala is still far from being a top team.
Unbeaten in seven away games in EL group stage
The Basques are particularly lacking in forward play, and a year ago they were the team with the fewest goals in the preliminary round, scoring just five. They have also scored only five goals in their first four group matches, which have resulted in only one win (three draws).
Erreala are unbeaten in seven away games in the EL group stages (four wins, three draws). Nevertheless, the Basques travel to the Principality as slight underdogs.
Predicted Real Sociedad line-up:
Remiro – Rico – Le Normand – Elustondo – Gorosabel – Guevara – Merino – Barrenetxea – Silva – Januzaj – Isak
Last matches played by Real Sociedad:
LaLiga
11/21 2021 – San Sebastian 0 – 0 Valencia
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
Monaco – Real Sociedad Direct comparison / H2H record
The first leg on 30 September 2021 was the only meeting between the two clubs to date. In Spain, Merino was able to equalise an early goal conceded by Disasi for a final score of 1-1.
Monaco – Real Sociedad tip
When it comes to Monaco against Real Sociedad, the prediction has to take into account the defensive strength of the visitors, who have not lost any of their last 17 competitive matches, especially because of their concrete defence. Now, however, the Basque defence will have to withstand a completely different calibre. The Monégasques, moreover, have lost only two of their eleven international home games against La Liga representatives.
Because Kovac’s side also have the chance to clinch early victory in Group B with a home win, we expect the Rouge et Blancs to be in the mood for a three-goal win against the Basques, who have not been too convincing of late.
We recommend tip 1, for which odds of 2.55 are available on Monaco against Real Sociedad.
