Real Sociedad vs Barcelona predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups ahead of an attractive fixture in Donostia.
| Date | Sunday 21st August 2022 |
| Kick-Off | 22:00 (local time) |
| Stadium | Reale Arena |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Real Sociedad vs Barcelona Preview
Barcelona are in Donostia on Sunday evening for what promises to be a cracking game. The visitors didn’t get the opening day win they were looking for after the busiest of summers and they won’t have it any easier here against a strong Real Sociedad side.
La Real did make a winning start to the season. Unlike Barcelona, they did their business relatively early and made sure they’d be in a position to register new signings so they felt like a slightly more settled outfit on the opening weekend even though their XI featured debutants Brais Mendez and Take Kubo. They are both players who know the league well though and it was Kubo who scored the only goal in their trip to Cadiz.
We shouldn’t see many changes from La Real here, although Diego Rico has picked up an injury meaning Aihen Muñoz ought to come in at left-back. This game will give us a better indicator as to what kind of level the Basque side are on. They have been top six regulars without ever really sustaining a genuine push for the Champions League places in recent years, although they do normally start seasons well so they are a dangerous opponent here for Xavi and his team.
Barcelona did ultimately manage to register most of their new signings in time for their opening league game against Rayo Vallecano. However the chaotic buildup perhaps contributed to a match that felt like a reality check as Barça were frustrated by the Madrid side and held to a 0-0 draw, the third time in less than a year that Barcelona have played Rayo and failed to score.
Credit must go to Andoni Iraola and his team of course but it’s clear that Barcelona still has plenty of improving to do. That should come with time as their new arrivals figure out how to play alongside one another but in some areas, it now feels like there is almost too much competition which could delay that process to some extent as you sense their starting XI is going to change from week to week.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Real Sociedad
| INJURED | Oyarzabal, Merquelanz, Rico, Carlos Fernandez |
| DOUBTFUL | |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Remiro – Munoz, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Elustondo – Merino, Zubimendi, – Kubo, Silva, Mendez – Isak (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Imanol
Barcelona
| INJURED | |
| DOUBTFUL | |
| BANNED | Busquets |
Possible XI: Ter Stegen – Alba, Christensen, Pique, Araujo – Pedri, De Jong, Kessie – Fati, Lewandowski, Dembele (4-3-3)
Coach: Xavi
Score Prediction: Real Sociedad 1-1 Barcelona
This one is hard to call. Real Sociedad did what they needed to do against a limited Cadiz side on the opening weekend but this is clearly a big jump up in class. Barcelona now have the individual quality that should enable them to be a very strong side in this league but it is a work in progress and the registration issues aren’t helping Xavi when it comes to match preparation. This match feels like it could end up all square.
PLEASE NOTE – Our LaLiga predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.
