Barcelona Vs Real Sociedad
Barcelona Vs Real Sociedad Wednesday 16th December 2020 – 20:00 (kick-off)
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Real Sociedad Win or Draw (Double Chance)
Odds: 13/10
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 15th December 2020)
Preview: La Liga frontrunners Real Sociedad put their excellent away record this season on the line when they visit the Camp Nou seeking a first away league win over Barcelona in more than a quarter of a century.
Spanish La Liga Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Barcelona – Too streaky to be trusted?
This past weekend was positive from a Barcelona (W5 D2 L4) perspective, even if their own performance in the nervy 1-0 win at Camp Nou against relegation-threatened Levante left a lot to be desired. Only Real Madrid among the top four sides in the table were victorious, allowing Ronaldo Koeman’s beleaguered men to reduce the deficit on the La Liga summit to nine points. They’ve also played two fewer games than some.
Nevertheless, the season so far has been anything but convincing. Particularly in the league, where they’ve won less than half the time (45%), despite registering more goals per game than all bar Atletico Madrid (both averaging 1.91). The problem for Koeman, however, is that this team doesn’t score often enough consistently, with many of their strikes coming in big wins over Celta Vigo, Osasuna, Real Betis and Villarreal.
Sunday’s modest score against Levante, meanwhile, provided the seventh instance of Barca failing to notch more than once in a league game. It was the only time they went on to win, highlighting the need for a more ruthless streak because this team aren’t keep many clean sheets. Just four so far. Three coming here at the Camp Nou, though, losing only to Real Madrid in six home outings (W4 D1 L1).
Real Sociedad – Primed for rare Camp Nou success?
The early momentum that carried the club from the Basque Country to the summit of Spain’s top tier has stalled in recent weeks, allowing their rivals to close in. A disappointing home draw with middling Eibar on Sunday, when failing to win after scoring the opening goal for only the second time this season, made it three La Liga stalemates in as many games and left them clinging to top spot on goal difference.
Should they succumb at the Camp Nou in customary fashion, Real Sociedad (W7 D5 L1) will slip back to second without the team directly beneath them, Atletico Madrid, having done anything. As previously alluded to though, their record away to Barcelona is extremely poor: since last winning this fixture in May 1991, La Real have been beaten in 25 of their 26 subsequent visits in La Liga.
However, each of the past four seasons has seen them go down by the solitary goal in Catalunya, while it required a late Lionel Messi penalty to consign them to defeat in March. Now could be their time to strike, while the iron is undoubtedly hot. For Imanol Alguacil’s team are unbeaten across all nine competitive away games this season (W5 D4) and are the only La Liga side yet to be beaten on the road (W4 D2).
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Barcelona Vs Real Sociedad Betting Advice
Based on their body of work so far this season, Barcelona are not deserving of such short odds in their fixture with La Liga leaders Real Sociedad. It is a fixture which the hosts have utterly dominated through the years, winning all but one of the past 26 league meetings at Camp Nou, but their inconsistency belies their odds while it isn’t even as though they’ve redeemed themselves in the big games – much like Real have.
Barcelona Vs Real Sociedad – Key Facts:
- Three of the four La Liga wins earned at home this season by Barcelona seen them score four or more, scoring only one goal in the other three matches at Camp Nou (W4 D1 L1).
- Across nine competitive away games this season in La Liga and the Europa League, Real Sociedad are yet to lose (W5 D4), keeping four clean sheets in six away league games.
- Barcelona‘s home record in La Liga versus Real Sociedad is formidable, however; the latter losing here in 25 of the past 26 seasons since a 3-1 win in May 1991.
Barca have won four of their six home league games so far, averaging 2.67 goals in the process, but their two toughest home assignments saw them come unstuck both times after drawing with Sevilla and losing to Real Madrid. Real Sociedad are in better form than either of those and are still to lose any match on their travels this season, boasting more away points and goals as well as the best defensive record in La Liga.
Best Betting Odds – Barcelona Vs Real Sociedad
Barcelona – 3/5 (BetVictor)
Draw – 10/3 (PaddyPower)
Real Sociedad – 4/1 (Betfair)
