Osasuna vs Real Sociedad predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for expert analysis, the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as La Real aim to hold onto top spot heading into the international break.
| Date | Sunday 7th November 2021 |
| Kick-Off | 18:30 (local time) |
| Stadium | El Sadar |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Osasuna vs Real Sociedad Preview
There’s a derby clash in Pamplona this weekend as two of LaLiga’s fast starters meet in what promises to be a really competitive game at El Sadar. Real Sociedad are riding high on top of LaLiga heading into matchday 13 but Osasuna are only 6 points worse off after a terrific start to the season.
Jagoba Arrasate perhaps deserves more praise than he gets for the job he has done with Osasuna. Talk of the brightest young coaches in Spain generally revolves around Diego Martinez or at the moment Andoni Iraola, but Arrasate is still only 43 and he really has done fine work at El Sadar in guiding Osasuna to the top flight and establishing them here with 11th and 10th place finishes.
European qualification would certainly make more people stand up and take notice and right now you have to say it’s not out of the question. Osasuna are riding high in 7th place despite being in the midst of a really tough run of fixtures which sees them face five of last season’s top seven in the space of six games. They did suffer their first away defeat of the campaign last time out, going down 2-0 at Sevilla, although that’s to some extent understandable given the effort they’d put in only a few days earlier to draw at the Bernabeu.
On the subject of underrated coaches, Imanol Alguacil is also doing a fantastic job at Real Sociedad, although it has been a frustrating week or so. La Real were denied a Basque derby victory in the final moments last Sunday when Iker Muniain’s free-kick somehow crept in to ensure Athletic left the Reale Arena with a point. Austrian underdogs Sturm Graz then surprisingly did likewise in the Europa League on Thursday night with Real Sociedad scoring from just 1 of their 30 attempts on goal.
That wastefulness would have been a somewhat painful flashback to last season when La Real frequently dropped points due to missing a hatful of chances. Imanol will be very keen to ensure a repeat does not happen on a regular basis this season but that may be easier said than done and it could yet be their achilles heel again.
Head to Head
- Last 5 Competitive Meetings: 3 Real Sociedad Wins, 2 Draws.
- Real Sociedad won 1-0 at El Sadar in May while the sides drew the meeting in Donsotia last term.
- La Real were also thrilling 4-3 winners on this ground in 2019.
- Osasuna haven’t beaten La Real since their return to this level.
Team News
Osasuna are missing keeper Sergio Herrera to injury again. Ante Budimir remains a doubt.
La Real look set to be without key man Mikel Oyarzabal again. Ander Guevara and Jon Guridi are also sidelined.
Possible Lineups
Osasuna vs Real Sociedad Predictions
Score Prediction: Osasuna 1-1 Real Sociedad
This has the makings of a really competitive derby clash. Real Sociedad have some players back now with their injury crisis easing but there are still a lot of key men who have played so much football over the past few weeks that it seems inevitable there will be a bit of fatigue in their legs here. Osasuna have had a week off to prepare and they look capable of getting a result against the early season pace-setters.
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