Villarreal Vs Real Sociedad
Villarreal Vs Real Sociedad Sunday, 15 May 2022 – 18:30 (BST)
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Under 2.5 Goals
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 13 May 2022)
Preview: Estadio de la Ceramica hosts a straight shootout for sixth place – and thus a spot in next season’s Europa League tournament – as Real Sociedad head to Villarreal with a three point cushion over their hosts and with the belief they can achieve a positive outcome, having remaining unbeaten here in the past four seasons.
Spanish La Liga Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Villarreal – Europa League aspirations hinge on defeating La Real?
Thursday’s 5-1 romp at Rayo Vallecano has kept alive hopes of finishing in a Europa League spot. Remarkably, that was the fourth time this term in which they hit five goals in a league game. Unai Emery will demand another big performance, though, with three points needed from this penultimate outing of 2021/22 to move them level on points but above sixth-placed Real Sociedad via a superior head-to-head record.
Just the one loss in six recent La Liga outings (W3 D2) suggests a team in confident mood for a tricky run-in which also sees them go to Barcelona in the final round. As hosts, they bring an 11-game unbeaten league run (W7 D4) into this fixture, allowing a meagre three goals across their last seven at Estadio de la Ceramica. The Yellow Submarine have struggled at home to the current top-eight, though: W1 D4 L1.
Key Stat: Villarreal would open the scoring in 8 of 11 previous La Liga home games, going on to win seven of these games. The exception being their most recent outing on home soil, a 1-1 draw with third-placed Sevilla.
Real Sociedad – A point will do nicely?
Unbeaten across their last three visits to Villarreal (W2 D1). Imanol Alguacil will be only too aware that should his team once again collect a favourable result in north-east Spain, they can ease any final day anxiety in their quest for a top-six finish that will see them compete in next season’s Europa League. A win guarantees them that, while a draw would leave them needing to avoid defeat against Atletico next time out.
Based on this season’s body of work, and that more recently, this is unlikely to be a simple assignment. Thursday’s 3-0 home win over relegation-battlers Cadiz marked a first win for five matches (D2 L2). Even more alarming, however, has to be their dismal record against the top-eight clubs in La Liga in 2021/22 – failing to win a single one of twelve such match-ups thus far (D5 L7), losing four out of six on the road.
Key Stat: Both teams scored in four of the previous five La Liga away games involving Real Sociedad, which is as many games to see both teams find the target as in their previous 12 such fixtures.
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Villarreal Vs Real Sociedad Betting Advice
This is set up to be a fascinating encounter. Villarreal may need to prise open the scoring early doors though, as Real Sociedad – boasting the third-best defence in La Liga this term, with 34 conceded in 36 games – will be content to sit back and soak up pressure in an effort to depart with at least a point. The good news for the home side, then, is that they’ve scored first in 8 of the last 11 La Liga home games.
Villarreal Vs Real Sociedad – Key Facts:
- Across the previous three La Liga seasons, Real Sociedad haven’t lost a single trip to Villarreal (W2 D1). Meanwhile, each of the past six league and cup meetings at this venue produced both teams scoring.
- Goals could be scarce on this occasion. Villarreal have scored no more than one goal in three of four prior home games. At the other end of the pitch, the Yellow Submarine’s rearguard has restricted the last seven visiting teams to a combined three goals.
- A point suits Real Sociedad, a team with the third-best defensive record in La Liga this term. In 18 away league games thus far, their defence was breached more than once on just seven occasions.
Only the top three teams in Spain have stronger scoring figures this season than Villarreal, who warmed up for this must win fixture by scoring five away in Vallecano. However, they’ve not netted more than two in any of their last four as hosts, with each of these games seeing Under 2.5 Goals. Coupled with Sociedad’s excellent defensive record and clear intentions to sit in, this could prove to be a tight, low-scoring affair.
Best Betting Odds – Villarreal Vs Real Sociedad
Villareal – 11/10 (WilliamHill)
Draw – 27/10 (Betfair)
Real Sociedad – 5/2 (Coral)
