Real Sociedad vs Barcelona Preview – Prediction, how to watch & line-ups | OneFootball

Sunday’s La Liga action closes out at the famous Anoeta as Real Sociedad and Barcelona go head-to-head in a handsomely-looking fixture.

Takefusa Kubo was on the scoresheet as the second youngest player to score on his debut for a new La Liga club in the 21st century as Sociedad claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Cadiz on the opening weekend.

After last season’s sixth-place finish, the Basque heavyweights have landed the likes of Brais Mendes, Momo Cho and Kubo to bolster their to-four bid this term.

Maintaining momentum following a morale-boosting matchday-one triumph is by no means assured against a heavily reinforced Barcelona side.

Keen to better last season’s runner-up finish, the Catalans have acquired the services of numerous top-class stars in the summer, including Robert Lewandowski and the ninth-most expensive Barcelona signing, Raphinha.

However, the highly anticipated opening game against Rayo Vallecano saw a new-look Barca side held to an abysmal scoreless draw, with the long-serving captain Sergio Busquets picking up a red card.

It wasn’t a start manager Xavi Hernandez was hoping for, especially as Barcelona’s first run of three scoreless La Liga matches since October 2003 has taken place under his watch.

Redemption time has come, with the Blaugrana heading to Sociedad, where they haven’t lost any of their last six top-flight visits (W4, D2), including a 1-0 win in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22.

Match Preview

Real Sociedad

Sociedad will be out to buck a negative trend against Barcelona that has seen them go winless in their last 12 La Liga clashes (D2, L10), their worst winless H2H streak in the 21st century.

Imanol Alguacil’s men will show up in a confident mood after going from four winless league matches (W2, D2) to racking up three wins from their last four (L1).

Sociedad proved hard to break in 2021/22, with no side conceding fewer home La Liga goals than them (nine) last season, suggesting Barcelona forwards could be facing another long evening.

Barcelona

After failing to get on the scoresheet in their last three La Liga outings, the Blaugrana face the prospect of drawing a blank in four consecutive top-flight matches for the first time in the club’s history.

You’d have to go back to April 2016 for Barcelona’s last competitive defeat to Sociedad, meaning their bid to avoid that piece of unwanted history has strong legs to stand on.

Xavi’s men haven’t lost any of their 11 away league matches in 2022 (W8, D3), which further improves the visitors’ effort to get off the mark in the new season.

Real Sociedad vs Barcelona Potential Line-ups

Real Sociedad (4-3-1-2): Aelx Remiro; Aritz Elustondo, Igor Zubeldia, Robin Le Normand, Aihen Munoz; Marin Zubimendi, Brais Mendez, Mikel Merino; David Silva; Alexander Isak, Takefusa Kubo.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Erik ter Stegen; Sergio Roberto, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Jordi Alba; Frenkie de Jong, Franck Kessie, Pedri; Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Ansu Fati.

How to Watch?

Sociedad vs Barcelona, alongside all other Blaugrana matches this season, is available to watch live online via Barcelona live streams.

Real Sociedad vs Barcelona Prediction

There’s no room for mistake following an uneventful showing against Vallecano as Barcelona look to turn their fortunes around at the Anoeta.

However, Sociedad’s rock-solid defence won’t be dolling out any favours to Barca’s star-studded attack.

We can envisage a low-scoring draw.

Real Sociedad 1-1 Barcelona