Barcelona Host Sociedad After Missing Out on La Liga Title
La Liga: Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Odds and Preview
Real Sociedad Chasing European Spot
With Barcelona’s 4-2 loss to Girona and Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Cadiz last weekend, Real Madrid clinched the 2023-24 La Liga title. Barcelona failed to successfully defend their title but they’ll have another shot next season as Xavi recently announced he’ll be staying on as manager next season.
While the highest Barcelona, who just need a point from their last four games to qualify for the Champions League, can finish is second, Real Sociedad are fighting for a spot in the Europa League. Barcelona host sixth-placed Sociedad on Monday in a match that will mean a lot to the visitors. Later on, we’ll take a look at the La Liga: Barcelona vs Real Sociedad odds.
FC Barcelona vs Real Sociedad
Day/Time:
Location: Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, Barcelona
Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Head-to-Head
Barcelona have won seven of their last eight La Liga games vs Real Sociedad. That includes last November’s 1-0 Barça victory in San Sebastian as Ronald Araujo scored a game winning header in second half stoppage time. Last season, after Barcelona had already clinched the La Liga title, Real Sociedad defeated Barcelona 2-1 at the Camp Nou.
It was Real Sociedad’s first road victory over Barcelona since 1991. In La Liga: Barcelona vs Real Sociedad matches, Barcelona are also on a 15 game scoring streak.
Barcelona Have Conceded Nine Goals in Last Three
Barcelona might not be the highest-ranked Catalan team in the La Liga table for the first time since the 1941-42 season. A look at the Barcelona standings shows FCB are in third place in La Liga after losing 4-2 to fellow Catalan side Girona last weekend.
Girona are in second at the moment, one point ahead of Barcelona with four games to play. Barcelona had a 2-1 lead last Saturday as Lamine Yamal assisted Andreas Christensen and won a penalty that Robert Lewandowski converted.
However, Barcelona conceded three unanswered goals to lose 4-2. Girona could have scored more and they exploited Barcelona’s weaknesses dealing with counter attacks and long balls. It was just the second time all season Barcelona lost a road match. Barcelona have conceded nine goals in their last three La Liga matches and have looked quite vulnerable lately.
Lewandowski has done his part on the offensive end, with four goals in his last two, but Barça are giving up too many good chances. Sociedad have some dynamic players that Barcelona need to be wary of. Still, Barcelona have kept three clean sheets vs Real Sociedad in the last five meetings.
The absentees here will be the same as last week’s as Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Alex Balde are out for the rest of the season.
Becker One to Watch on Real Sociedad
Sheraldo Becker was involved in both of Real Sociedad’s goals in their 2-0 victory over Las Palmas last Saturday. Becker sent in a cross that resulted in an own goal and scored on a powerful shot from an incredibly tight angle that hit the crossbar and went in.
Becker has proved to be a shrewd signing from Union Berlin and the Surinamese winger has managed a goal contribution in each of his last three starts.
Real Sociedad have also lost just one of their last seven La Liga fixtures. With 54 points, Sociedad sit in sixth place, two points ahead of seventh-placed Betis. Unless Athletic Club implode in the last few weeks of the season, sixth will be good enough to qualify for the Europa League.
So, Sociedad will look to close out the season strongly as they chase European football once again.
Sociedad have been one of the best four road teams in the league this season, with just four losses from 17 matches. However, they’re winless vs La Liga’s top four teams this season. Real Sociedad are 0-2-4 vs the current top four and both draws came vs Girona. Key midfielder Martin Zubimendi could miss this one, while defenders Igor Zubeldia, Kieran Tierney, Hamari Traore and Aihen Muñoz are all on the injury report.
Match Analysis & Odds
This isn’t exactly a straightforward game for Barcelona. Players like Becker and Take Kubo could cause the hosts some problems on Monday. The motivation of not wanting to finish behind Girona could boost Barcelona for the rest of the campaign but it’s Sociedad who need results more over the next few weeks.
In any case, the La Liga: Barcelona vs Real Sociedad odds list Barcelona as -120 favorites.
Real Sociedad are +340 underdogs and they’re going for back-to-back wins on the road at Barcelona, which they’ve never done before. A draw (+275) would likely keep Sociedad in sixth place for at least another week but Betis get level on points this weekend. Sociedad +0.5 sits at even odds as both over and under 2.5 goals are priced at -110 odds.
Each of Barcelona’s last three games have finished with five or more goals and they need to get back to basics. Sociedad rarely play in thrillers as they play more of a measured game. The visitors have only conceded twice in their last three road matches and will hope to keep this one close.
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