Real Sociedad vs Barcelona

The La Liga title race intensifies today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, as league leaders FC Barcelona travel to San Sebastián to face Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena (Anoeta). Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET).

Hansi Flick’s side enters the fixture in imperious form, currently on an 11-match winning streak across all competitions. However, Anoeta has historically been one of the most difficult grounds for the Blaugrana, and with Real Madrid having closed the gap to just one point following their win over Levante yesterday, the pressure is on Barcelona to maintain their four-point cushion at the summit.

Match Information

FC Barcelona: Dominance Amidst Precautions

Barcelona has been the standard-bearer for offensive football in Europe this season, scoring a staggering 53 goals in 19 league matches. Despite their midweek victory over Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey, Hansi Flick faces several selection dilemmas.

The biggest blow to the visitors is the absence of Raphinha, who has been ruled out as a precaution due to a thigh knock. The Brazilian has been in the form of his life, but Flick is expected to call upon Marcus Rashford to fill the void on the left flank. In better news, Frenkie de Jong is available again after serving a domestic suspension, and Dani Olmo has been passed fit, though he may start on the bench to manage his minutes.

Team News and Selection:

• Confirmed Out: Raphinha (thigh), Gavi (knee), Andreas Christensen (ACL tear), and Marc-André ter Stegen (knee).

• Key Player: Lamine Yamal continues to defy age, recording seven goals and seven assists this season. His battle with Real Sociedad's Alejandro Balde (who will be defending against Takefusa Kubo) will be a tactical highlight.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Joan García; Koundé, Cubarsí, Eric García, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Fermín López, Rashford; Lewandowski.

Real Sociedad: The Matarazzo Era Begins

Real Sociedad is currently in a period of transition. Following a disappointing first half of the season, the club parted ways with Sergio Francisco and appointed Pellegrino Matarazzo. The American-Italian coach has made an immediate impact, remaining unbeaten in his first three games, including a vital 2–1 win over Getafe last weekend.

Sitting in 13th place, "La Real" is desperate to climb into the top half. While they have struggled for consistency at home, their recent victory over Osasuna on penalties in the Copa del Rey has provided a much-needed morale boost.

Team News and Selection:

• Confirmed Out: Orri Óskarsson (muscle), Arsen Zakharyan (knee), and Iñaki Rupérez (knee).

• Doubtful: Midfielder Yangel Herrera is nearing a return but remains a significant doubt for today’s starting lineup.

• Key Player: Takefusa Kubo remains the primary creative outlet. Having spent time in Barcelona's youth ranks, the Japanese winger always finds extra motivation in this fixture.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Ćaleta-Car, Sergio Gómez; Soler, Turrientes; Kubo, Méndez, Guedes; Oyarzabal.

Head-to-Head (H2H) and Tactical Analysis

• Historical Advantage: Barcelona has won 12 of their last 14 meetings against Real Sociedad.

• Recent Form: Barcelona is on a 9-match winning streak in La Liga, while Real Sociedad has failed to win their last three home league games.

• Tactical Battle: Flick’s high-pressing system will look to overwhelm Real Sociedad’s midfield. However, Matarazzo’s teams are known for their physical resilience and ability to absorb pressure—a tactic that saw Real Sociedad secure a famous 1–0 win over Barcelona at this venue in late 2024.

• The Lewandowski Threat: Robert Lewandowski scored the winner in the 2–1 reverse fixture in September and remains the focal point of the league's most dangerous attack.

Match Prediction

Real Sociedad appears to be finding their footing under Matarazzo, and the absence of Raphinha undoubtedly removes a layer of dynamism from Barcelona’s attack. However, the sheer depth of talent available to Hansi Flick, combined with the return of Frenkie de Jong to stabilize the midfield, makes the visitors the favorites. Expect a high-intensity encounter where Barcelona's clinical finishing eventually breaks down the Basque defense.

Final Score Prediction: Real Sociedad 1–2 FC Barcelona