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Can Real Sociedad turn Anoeta into a storm again, or will Barcelona’s winning streak roll on? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
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Barcelona have won 11 straight games and 9 straight league games by 2+ goals. Sociedad have conceded in 13 straight league matches but have scored in 8 of their last 9 at home.
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Fits the trend of Barcelona winning by multiple goals (9 straight) while Sociedad’s defensive leaks and Barcelona's transition weakness allow for a home goal.
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Real Sociedad vs Barcelona — bet365 Market Snapshot
Market snapshot showing implied probabilities and sample bet365 odds for this La Liga fixture.
Barcelona’s 11-match winning streak reflects in the pricing, with a significant tilt toward an away victory at Anoeta.
Barcelona’s clinical form and Sociedad’s defensive streak of 13 games without a clean sheet suggest a high-scoring encounter.
- Streak Pressure Test: Barcelona arrive chasing a 12th straight win in all competitions, and they’ve also won their last 9 La Liga games by 2+ goals — ruthless momentum, but it raises the bar on every minute.
- Anoeta Alarm Bells: Real Sociedad have conceded 1+ goal in 13 straight La Liga matches, and they’ve only taken 11 points from 9 home league games — the margin for sloppy transitions is basically gone.
- Volume vs Control: Barcelona are firing 19.6 shots per league game with 68.7% possession and 89.4% pass accuracy, while Real Sociedad sit at 13.8 shots, 51.7% possession, 82.8% passing — a clear tilt in territory and chance creation.
Attacking Volume: Shots per League Game
Barcelona’s relentless offensive approach leads to significantly higher shot volume compared to the hosts.
Their aggressive final-third play results in nearly 20 attempts per game.
Sociedad maintain a steady output but lack the sheer frequency of the visitors.
Ball Retention: Passing Accuracy %
A comparison of how effectively each side maintains possession and finds teammates.
This high accuracy fuels their 68.7% average possession dominant style.
Sociedad are technically sound but operate at a lower tempo than Barca.
Sunday night at Anoeta Stadium has a sharp edge to it. Barcelona are top of the table and carrying the kind of form that squeezes opponents before the first whistle — they’re looking to stretch that winning run again, with Hans-Dieter Flick steering a side that plays fast, controlled, and aggressive in the final third.
For Real Sociedad, it’s about credibility as much as points. They’re sitting mid-table after 21 points from 19 matches, yet the mood has lifted under Pellegrino Matarazzo, who’s started unbeaten since taking charge. Kick-off is set for 20:00, and the script is clear: Sociedad need a cleaner, colder game than their recent trendline suggests — because Barcelona won’t wait for them to settle.
Team News & Lineups
Real Sociedad absences
- M. Goti López (calf injury)
- A. Zakharyan (unknown injury)
- Y. Herrera Ravelo (calf injury)
Barcelona absences
- No injuries or suspensions listed.
Probable Lineups
Real Sociedad:
Remiro; Aramburu, Caleta-Car, Martin, Gomez; Soler, Turrientes; Kubo, Mendez, Guedes; Oyarzabal
Barcelona:
E Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, E Garcia, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; F Torres
What it means
- With A. Zakharyan unavailable, Sociedad’s attacking “connector” options look narrower — it puts extra creative weight on Takefusa Kubo and Brais Méndez between the lines.
- Barcelona’s shape screams control: Pedri and Frenkie de Jong for rhythm, then a front unit built to run behind and isolate full-backs — especially if Lamine Yamal gets early touches.
The Tale of the Tape
| Metric (La Liga) | Real Sociedad | Barcelona |
|---|---|---|
| League position | 11th | 1st |
| Points (19 games) | 21 | 49 |
| Goals (for) | 24 | 53 |
| Goals (against) | 27 | 20 |
| Shots per game | 13.8 | 19.6 |
| Possession | 51.7% | 68.7% |
| Pass accuracy | 82.8% | 89.4% |
| Clean sheets (total) | 3 | 10 |
Barcelona’s numbers point to one thing: they don’t just win, they own the pitch. The shot volume and possession gap suggests long spells of Barcelona pressure, with Sociedad needing to be brilliant in their defensive spacing and ruthless when transitions appear. Sociedad’s goals conceded total isn’t disastrous, but the trend of allowing goals regularly makes this a harsh fixture to “grow into.”
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Tactical Battle: How the Match Plays Out
Barcelona’s plan: squeeze, swarm, and finish
Barcelona lean into possession football, short passes, and frequent through balls, while controlling the game in the opposition’s half. That matches the personnel: Pedri and De Jong can keep the ball moving, and the wide threat is real — Barcelona are rated Very Strong attacking down the wings and also happy attacking through the middle.
The danger for Sociedad isn’t just losing the ball — it’s where they lose it. Barcelona’s strengths include finishing scoring chances and creating chances through individual skill, so even one mistimed press or a loose first touch can become a shot quickly.
Real Sociedad’s route: brave build-up, then hit the seam
Sociedad’s style leans toward controlling the game in the opposition’s half and taking long shots, plus they’re strong at creating chances using through balls and attacking set pieces. That’s not a timid profile — it’s a side that wants to play, even if the results have wobbled.
If Sociedad are going to threaten, it’s through the movement and timing of Oyarzabal (5 league goals, 3 assists) with runners arriving off him — Kubo and Guedes can stretch angles, while Méndez has the scoring output (4 league goals) to punish half-spaces when Barcelona’s line steps.
The big mismatch: transitions both ways
Here’s the twist: both sides carry a red flag in the same area. Real Sociedad are weak at defending counter attacks, and Barcelona are listed as Very Weak at defending counter attacks and stopping opponents from creating chances. That sets up a match with two personalities: long Barcelona spells… and sudden moments where either side can rip through space if the rest defence isn’t set.
For Sociedad, that means discipline in midfield distances — if Soler and Turrientes get dragged, the back line sees runners all night. For Barcelona, it’s about not letting Sociedad’s first pass forward become a clean break — because Sociedad are strong at stealing the ball from the opposition, and they’ve shown they’ll keep swinging even when behind.
Key Moments to Watch
- Set-piece swing: Sociedad are strong at attacking set pieces, but also weak at defending set pieces — the same phase can bite either end depending on concentration. Barcelona, meanwhile, are strong at defending set pieces, so Sociedad need quality delivery and better second-ball reactions.
- Right-side threat: Barcelona like attacking down the right and are very strong down the wings. If Yamal and Koundé pin Sociedad back, it becomes a long evening of recovery runs and emergency defending.
- Game-state nerve: Sociedad are strong at coming back from losing positions, but also weak at protecting the lead. If they score first, the challenge becomes managing the next 10 minutes — not just celebrating the moment.
What could go wrong?
For Barcelona, domination without control of transitions can turn ugly fast — one loose pass, one broken rest-defence shape, and Sociedad have the through-ball tools to hurt them. For Sociedad, the risk is obvious: conceding again, early or late, because gaps open as they chase the game — and Barcelona’s chance creation and finishing punish that kind of chaos.
Best Bet for Real Sociedad vs Barcelona
Can Anoeta Halt the Hansi Flick Juggernaut?
The Punter’s Cheat Sheet
| Factor | The Numbers | Betting Signal |
| Scoring Form | Barca: 53 goals (2.8/gm); RSO: 24 goals | Over 2.5 Goals |
| Streak | Barca: 11 straight wins; 9/9 by 2+ goals | Barca -1 Handicap |
| Defense | RSO: 13 straight games conceded | BTTS: Yes |
| Possession | Barca: 68.7%; RSO: 51.7% | Barca Win |
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Barcelona to Win & Both Teams to Score
Barcelona arrive at Anoeta as an unstoppable force. They have secured 11 consecutive victories across all competitions and have dominated La Liga with nine straight wins, remarkably winning every single one of those league fixtures by a margin of two or more goals. Their attacking output is the highest in the division, netting 53 goals in just 19 matches—an average of 2.8 per game. With Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski in peak form, the visitors possess a level of clinical finishing that Real Sociedad’s backline is currently ill-equipped to handle.
Real Sociedad are in a period of defensive instability. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in 13 consecutive La Liga matches, a trend that is particularly concerning when facing the league’s most prolific offense. While they have improved under Pellegrino Matarazzo and remain unbeaten in their last three outings, their home form is modest, taking only 11 points from nine matches at Anoeta. They are notably weak at defending counter-attacks, which plays directly into the hands of a Barcelona side that thrives on rapid transitions and isolating defenders.
However, the hosts are rarely kept quiet in front of their own fans. Real Sociedad have scored in eight of their last nine home league matches this season. Barcelona, for all their dominance, are listed as very weak at defending counter-attacks themselves, having conceded 20 goals this term. This tactical vulnerability, combined with Sociedad’s strength in creating chances through through-balls and set pieces, makes a home goal highly probable. The value lies in backing the superior side to outscore an opponent that consistently struggles to shut the door.
What could go wrong? Barcelona’s high defensive line is inherently risky. If Real Sociedad’s creative engines, Takefusa Kubo and Brais Méndez, find early success with through-balls to Mikel Oyarzabal, the visitors could find themselves chasing the game. Additionally, Sociedad have a history of being strong at coming back from losing positions, which could frustrate Barcelona if they fail to kill the game off early.
Correct Score Lean
Real Sociedad 1-3 Barcelona
This scoreline aligns with the statistical reality of both sides. Barcelona have won their last nine league matches by at least a two-goal margin, and their season average of 2.5 goals per away game suggests they will find the net multiple times. Real Sociedad’s defensive streak of 13 games without a clean sheet makes a 3-goal haul for the visitors realistic. Given Sociedad’s consistent scoring record at home and Barcelona’s own weaknesses in transition defense, a solitary consolation goal for the hosts is the most likely outcome.
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