Will Barca get out of their crisis?
The title fight in the Spanish La Liga is as good as decided. Real Madrid will almost certainly bring home the championship. There is currently most excitement in the race for the other three places in the top flight. Five teams are fighting for three slots, including Real Sociedad San Sebastian and FC Barcelona, who will meet in a direct duel on Thursday.
The Basques from San Sebastian currently have the worst starting position. With 55 points, they are in sixth place. They are five points off second place. However, you might also have to look down. Real Sociedad are six points ahead of seventh place, but even participation in the Conference League can still be lost.
Barca is in a much better position. The Catalans are in second place and have 60 points, as do Sevilla and Atletico Madrid. The Blaugrana’s advantage, however, is that they still have a catch-up game against Rayo Vallecano up their sleeve.
However, Xavi Hernandez’s team must finally put the Europa League exit against Eintracht Frankfurt behind them in order to collect the necessary points to secure their place in the top flight. We imagine the next step will be taken on Thursday and are leaning towards a three-pointer for the visitors from Catalonia in the encounter between Real Sociedad and Barcelona.
Real Sociedad – Statistics & current form
The Basques would probably be delighted to qualify for the European Cup again in the strong Spanish league. After early exits in the Copa del Rey and the Europa League, qualification for the Champions League would be a more than considerable consolation. A win on Thursday would at least put them within touching distance of FC Barcelona.
Minimalist at the Reale Arena
If we look at the condition of Imanol Alguacil’s team, then one has to speak of decent form. The Basques are unbeaten in La Liga for five games, bringing home three wins and two draws. That at least sounds as if you should also look at the odds for a point win for the home side between Real Sociedad and Barcelona.
Especially in their own stadium, things are going very well, even if the fans are not exactly spoiled. Three wins and a draw are on the books from the last four home games, with the Basque minimalists celebrating their successes with a 1:0 victory in each case. Last weekend, however, they only managed a goalless draw at home against Betis Sevilla.
On Good Friday, veteran David Silva was sent off with a traffic light card. The former international will now miss the crucial match against Barcelona. Nacho Monreal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ander Barrenetxea and Carlos Fernandez will also be absent due to injury. Perhaps captain Asier Illaramendi will be an option for the starting eleven again.
Predicted line-up of Real Sociedad:
Remiro – Rico, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Gorosabel – Merino, Zubimendi, Rafinha, Guevara – Isak, Sörloth – Coach: Alguacil
Last matches played by Real Sociedad:
La Liga
16/04/2022 – Real Sociedad 0 – 0 Real Betis
10/04/2022 – Elche 1 – 2 Real Sociedad
05/04/2022 – Real Sociedad 1 – 0 Espanyol
21/03/2022 – Sevilla FC 0 – 0 Real Sociedad
14/03/2022 – Real Sociedad 1 – 0 Deportivo Alaves
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
How cracked is the Catalans’ psyche? That will probably be the crucial question ahead of Thursday’s clash in San Sebastian. The Blaugrana seem to have not yet come to terms with the shock of a perceived Europa League away tie against Frankfurt and the consequent exit from international competitions.
Home slippers get on the psyche
While Barca were very good on the road. Xavi Hernandez’s team was unbeaten for 15 games and now they conceded two home defeats in a row at the Camp Nou. It’s no wonder that the coach is talking about the need to come to terms with the negative experiences. We think that will happen on Thursday, however, because we agree with the bettors’ forecast for an away win in the Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona match.
The Catalans simply need a sense of achievement in the game again and then the train should start rolling again. On Monday, Barca delivered a decent match against Cadiz, but after failing to convert their first chances, doubts quickly returned. In the end, they were beaten 1-0 at home by the relegation candidates.
Defensive stability should at least return on Thursday, as Gerard Pique and Ronald Araujo are back in the mix and could form the central defence together. In attack, Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Memphis Depay are likely to battle it out for two places. Moussa Wague, Sergi Roberto, Pedri and Ansu Fati are not in the mix.
Predicted Barcelona line-up:
ter Stegen – Alba, Pique, Araujo, Dani Alves – Busquets, Gavi, F. de Jong – Torres, Dembele, Aubameyang – Coach: Hernandez
Last matches played by Barcelona:
La Liga
19/04/2022 – FC Barcelona 0 – 1 Cadiz
Europa League Final Stage
15/04/2022 – FC Barcelona 2 – 3 Eintracht Frankfurt
La Liga
11/04/2022 – Levante 2 – 3 FC Barcelona
Europa League Final Stage
08/04/2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 1 – 1 FC Barcelona
La Liga
04/04/2022 – FC Barcelona 1 – 0 FC Sevilla
Real Sociedad – Barcelona Direct comparison / H2H balance
The match between Real Sociedad San Sebastian and FC Barcelona is a pure classic in Spanish football. In total, the big clubs from the Basque Country and Catalonia have faced each other in a sumptuous 167 duels. In the direct comparison, the Blaugrana are more than clearly ahead with 98:33 victories. 36 games ended in a draw.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad has been waiting for a victory against FC Barcelona for 14 direct duels. The Basques’ last success came in April 2016, and the first leg in Barcelona was very spectacular. Gerard Pique and Martin Braithwaite with a brace put the Catalans 3-0 ahead. Julen Lobete and Mikel Oyarzabal reduced the score to 2:3 before Sergi Roberto made everything clear for Barca with the 4:2 in the final minute.
Real Sociedad – Barcelona tip
With a home win, Real Sociedad would pull to within two points of FC Barcelona. The form at least does not speak against it, because the Basques are unbeaten for five games. They have also won three at home, 1-0, and one at home, 0-0, meaning they have not conceded a goal at the Reale Arena for four matches.
We think Barca will score more than the hosts at least once, though. After all, San Sebastian haven’t won against the Catalans for six years. The only problem is that the Blaugrana need to get the last two defeats out of their heads.
But we can imagine that the defeats could be worked off in the last few days. Therefore, we see the visitors in the role of favourites and we think Barca will take a big step towards the Champions League on Thursday. We have therefore decided to play the betting odds on an away win between Real Sociedad and Barcelona.
