- Date and Time: Sunday, November 10, 2024, 21:00 GMT+1
- Venue: Reale Arena, San Sebastián-Donostia, Spain
| Odds via 22bet | |
| Real Sociedad vs FC Barcelona | November 10, 21:00 GMT+1 |
| Real Sociedad odds | 4.48 |
| FC Barcelona odds | 1.68 |
| Draw | 4.2 |
| Over\Under | Total 2,5: 1.62/2.296 |
Real Sociedad vs FC Barcelona Preview
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad’s struggles this season represent a disappointing turn for a team that once showed Champions League promise.
Mikel Merino’s departure to Arsenal impacted their defensive structure, but the retention of Martín Zubimendi was meant to signal a commitment to stability. However, the club has been unable to replace Merino’s unique influence, and the team now sits 14th in the La Liga table, suffering from inconsistent performances.
🔚 Full-time #PLZRSO pic.twitter.com/kc8ed7N7hc
— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) November 7, 2024
The team has only won four games, while drawing three and losing five. These poor results stem from the fact that players like Takefusa Kubo, Umar Sadiq and Brais Méndez haven’t been able to replicate the impact they had in previous seasons.
While the team’s offence suffered, the defence was still wounded from Merino’s exit. Real Sociedad cannot seem to transition peacefully to a defensive set-up without conceding.
It’s particularly worrying for the fans, who remember how the first half of the season used to be Real Sociedad’s strong point. They would often slow down in the second half. This season, the team has been a shadow of its former self and nothing points towards any improvement.
| Recent Form | LDWWL |
| Key Player to Watch | Brais Méndez |
| Team Strengths | High technical ceiling, common framework through the academy |
| Team Weaknesses | Lack of defensive solidity, lack of quality full-backs,lack of defensively solid partnership between centre backs |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Hamak Traoré |
FC Barcelona
Under Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona has returned to form with a high-pressing strategy that has proven effective against top teams, such as recent wins over Bayern and Real Madrid.
The revitalised Robert Lewandowski has been central to this success, while Lamine Yamal’s exceptional performances continue to highlight his potential, despite the fanbase’s concerns about his playing time.
He. Is. A. Beast. pic.twitter.com/X5oohLRVrf
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 8, 2024
FC Barcelona’s week was eventful. The Blaugrana secured an easy 3-1 victory in the local derby against Espanyol, in which Dani Olmo netted a brace. Barca also won their mid-week Champions League clash against Crvena Zvezda (5-2). Fermín López scored a goal, and so did Robert Lewandowski (brace), Raphinha and Íñigo Martínez.
The victory was important, as Crvena Zvezda’s atmosphere is famous for being difficult for the inexperienced to play in, but most of Barcelona’s young players were unimpressed by it.
| Recent Form | WWWWW |
| Key Player to Watch | Dani Olmo |
| Team Strengths | Well-crafted offside trap, aggressive pressing scheme, well-balanced profiles, excellent individual quality in most positions. |
| Team Weaknesses | Risky highline with the rest defence, lack of athleticism in the midfield. |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Marc Bernal, Marc-André Ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araújo, Eric García, Ferrán Torres |
Real Sociedad vs FC Barcelona Head-to-Head Statistics
The two teams have played a total 42 matches against each other. Barcelona won 29 of those, while La Real only won 6 times, with 7 encounters resulting in a draw.
Barcelona won the most recent match (2-0), in which Lamine Yamal and Raphinha scored for the Catalans at the end of the 23/24 season.
Real Sociedad’s last recorded victory dates back from May 2023 (1-2). Mikel Merino and Alexander Sørloth scored for Real Sociedad, while Robert Lewandowski scored Barcelona’s only goal in the 90th minute.
Real Sociedad vs FC Barcelona Player Focus
Umar Sadiq seems to be the obvious player pick for Real Sociedad. However, the striker only featured twice this season, and neither of these two appearances was particularly inspiring.
Brais Mendez comes to mind and remains the team’s most important creative outlet, particularly as Kubo’s productivity has dropped. With his high level of technique and his sense of excellent decision-making, he could be the standout for Sociedad.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 8, 2024
However, Real Sociedad’s defense has been a weak point, particularly on the wings, which could be problematic given Barcelona’s high-tempo offense.
Barcelona, on the other hand, are expected to play with aggressive pressing and a well-organized offside trap, capitalizing on Real Sociedad’s defensive inconsistency. With an in-form Lewandowski and creative support from Yamal and Raphinha, Barcelona will look to exploit this to their advantage.
Bet hereReal Sociedad vs FC Barcelona Tactical Analysis
Real Sociedad used to be a difficult team to play against, due to their coordinated press and their variety of profiles. However, this is no longer the case.
Luka Sučić has been the club’s most important transfer. He often accelerates his team’s attack and prefers to shoot from far, an element of the game that the club has been missing for years. Still, this will not be enough to stop an in-form Barcelona.
💪 Unmatched work ethic pic.twitter.com/DjmrqXFDGu
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 7, 2024
Flick’s team will look to deploy its offside trap against Real Sociedad and will press high. How La Real will deal with this is another question, as the centre-back partnership of Zubeldia and Aguerd has been an issue for the team. With an imposing figure like Lewandowski, one of them will need to target him.
Barcelona is expected to mostly play on a high tempo, which is something Real Sociedad has historically struggled with.
Real Sociedad vs FC Barcelona Prediction
- Football pick: FC Barcelona to win
- Odds: 1.68 (22Bet)
- Score prediction: Real Sociedad 0-3 FC Barcelona
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona currently seems unstoppable, with the team having already scored fifty goals, unprecedented in Barcelona’s history in the 21st century.
Although Barcelona may concede goals, they outscore every opponent at an alarming rate. No team seems to have found the antidote to Flick’s blitzing technique, a tactic that the squad has quickly adapted to.
As Real Sociedad struggles to defend on the wings, this is Barcelona’s perfect chance to strike in a historically difficult stadium.
Real Sociedad vs FC Barcelona Betting Tip
- Football Pick: Robert Lewandowski to score
- Odds: 2.05 (22Bet)
Robert Lewandowski’s rejuvenation has allowed him to score game after game. He particularly excels against teams who cannot match his solid build, and he will face a centre-back partnership that has struggled to keep a clean sheet.
Furthermore, he can count on Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Raphiha to supply him with endless chances, and it is unlikely that he will not find the back of the net.
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