Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Match Analysis & Prediction
20/05/2023 10:00 pm
Fresh from securing the 2022-23 La Liga title, Barcelona will continue their campaign with a home game against to-four hopefuls Real Sociedad on Saturday night.
Barca were crowned champions with four matches remaining by beating Espanyol 4-2 in the Barcelona derby last weekend, while Real Sociedad drew 2-2 against Girona and still have work to do if they are to secure a top-four spot in the table.
Xavi’s side have bee comfortably the best side in La Liga this season, boasting a record of 27 wins, four draws and three losses from their 34 matches to collect 85 points, which has put them 14 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid at the top of the table.
Reclaiming the league trophy has to be seen as a huge positive, but Barcelona were knocked out of the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals by Real Madrid, while they again failed to make it out of the group stage of the Champions League before losing to Manchester United in the Europa League knockout round playoffs.
Barcelona will undoubtedly be looking to challenge for the biggest prizes next season, and they have four pressure-free matches against Real Sociedad, Real Valladolid, Mallorca and Celta Vigo to finish the campaign, with the club capable of reaching 97 points in the division.
It would be fair to say that this is a bigger game for Real Sociedad than it is for Barcelona, as the visitors are bidding to secure a top-four spot in the table and Champions League football for next season.
The White and Blues are currently fourth, five points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, and they will bring a five-game unbeaten run into this game, which has included three victories.
However, Imanol Alguacil’s side were held to a 2-2 draw by Girona at home last weekend, and another defeat in this game would certainly leave the vulnerable, especially as a tough end to the season sees them finish with matches against Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.
Real Sociedad, who have not finished in La Liga’s top four since 2013, have been impressive on their travels this season, picking up 30 points from 17 matches, winning nine times in the process.
Nevertheless, Alguacil’s side have not beaten Barcelona in La Liga since April 2016, with the Catalan outfit winning each of their last six meetings, including a 4-1 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad Head to head
In the 59 previous meetings between these two teams across all competitions, Barcelona have claimed 40 victories while Real Sociedad have won eight, and they have drawn in 11. Real Sociedad have scored 52 goals and conceded 128 in the process.
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21/03/2021Real Sociedad1Barcelona6La Liga
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15/08/2021Barcelona4Real Sociedad2La Liga
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21/04/2022Real Sociedad0Barcelona1La Liga
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21/08/2022Real Sociedad1Barcelona4La Liga
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25/01/2023Barcelona1Real Sociedad0Copa del Rey
Barcelona Team News
Barcelona will be without the services of Gavi through suspension due to the milestone yellow card that he picked up in the 4-2 victory over Espanyol last weekend.
There could be start in a wide area for Ousmane Dembele, who has recently returned from a hamstring problem, while Jordi Alba and Marcos Alonso are also pushing to be involved from the first whistle.
Barcelona's Last 5 Matches
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23/04/2023Barcelona1Atletico Madrid0La Liga
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26/04/2023Rayo Vallecano2Barcelona1La Liga
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29/04/2023Barcelona4Real Betis0La Liga
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02/05/2023Barcelona1Osasuna0La Liga
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14/05/2023Espanyol2Barcelona4La Liga
Real Sociedad Team News
Real Sociedad’s Brais Mendez, Umar Sadiq and Martin Merquelanz remain on the sidelines through injury.
Despite failing to beat Girona last time out, Alguacil could name the same XI for this game, with Mikel Oyarzabal, Takefusa Kubo, David Silva and Alexander Sorloth all featuring in attacking areas.
Real Sociedad's Last 5 Matches
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22/04/2023Real Sociedad2Rayo Vallecano1La Liga
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25/04/2023Real Betis0Real Sociedad0La Liga
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28/04/2023Osasuna0Real Sociedad2La Liga
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02/05/2023Real Sociedad2Real Madrid0La Liga
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13/05/2023Real Sociedad2Girona2La Liga
Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
1X2: 1
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