Real Sociedad Vs Barcelona

Barcelona aim to extend their winning streak in La Liga to five games as they resume their campaign against Real Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium on Sunday night. Hansi Flick’s squad has been a dominant force in Spain’s top division, sitting comfortably at the top of the La Liga standings, nine points clear of their closest rivals, Real Madrid. In contrast, Real Sociedad has struggled to find form this season, currently positioned in 11th place and not meeting expectations for 2024-25.

Match Preview

Real Sociedad recently faced a setback in the Europa League, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Viktoria Plzen. This loss has kept them in a challenging position within their group, with four points from their opening four matches. Sociedad’s start in La Liga has also been uneven, reflecting a record of four wins, three draws, and five losses across 12 games. These results have only garnered them 15 points, which places them mid-table with six points separating them from fourth-placed Villarreal, and only four points ahead of Leganes in 15th.

Defensively, Real Sociedad has shown resilience, conceding just 10 goals, the third-best defensive record in the league. However, their offense has struggled, scoring a mere 10 goals, placing them among the least productive attacking teams in La Liga. At home, they’ve underperformed, claiming just four points from six games—currently the worst home record in the league.

Barcelona's Dominance at Anoeta

Barcelona enter this matchup with a remarkable history against Real Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium, remaining undefeated there in La Liga since April 2016. Out of their last 11 encounters with Sociedad across all competitions, Barcelona has emerged victorious 10 times, showing a clear pattern of dominance.

Following a seven-game winning streak, Barcelona heads into this clash fresh off a 5-2 Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade. This win places them sixth in the overall table in the Champions League. In La Liga, Barcelona secured a 3-1 victory over Espanyol in the Catalan derby last weekend, reinforcing their lead at the top, nine points ahead of Real Madrid, albeit with an additional game played.

Key Players and Performance

Barcelona’s success this season can largely be attributed to the exceptional performances of their key players. Robert Lewandowski has been particularly prolific, netting 19 goals and providing two assists across 16 appearances. Raphinha has also been instrumental, with 12 goals and 10 assists in 16 games in all competitions. Young talent Lamine Yamal has continued to impress, contributing six goals and eight assists in his first 16 games of the season.

Overall, Barcelona’s form in La Liga has been nearly flawless, winning 11 of their 12 matches while scoring 40 goals. Their strong away record and exceptional depth of talent have made them a formidable opponent, and they’re eager to continue their winning momentum against Real Sociedad on Sunday.