Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Prediction: Lewa can find a goal

Barcelona play their seventh match of the new season in La Liga when they entertain Real Sociedad on Sunday. This fixture will take place at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, with Camp Nou still not ready to host the Spanish champions.

It’s the third Sunday home game in succession for Hansi Flick’s side. The last two both took place at the 6,000-capacity Estadi Johan Cruyff, and both served up comfortable Barça victories. Below you can find my Barcelona vs Real Sociedad predictions. 

They saw off Valencia 6-0 a fortnight ago, before easing past Getafe 3-0 last weekend. There were some big attacking contributions from the likes of Fermín López, Raphinha and Ferran Torres in those games, with the rest of the Catalan side’s forward line rising to the challenge in the absence of Lamine Yamal.

Barça have also won their two away games since losing the 18-year-old to an injury. Marcus Rashford starred in a 2-1 Champions League victory at Newcastle, while they came from behind to win 3-1 against Real Oviedo on Thursday night in La Liga. Goals from Eric García, Robert Lewandowski and Ronald Araújo sealed that victory, and you always have the sense that they are never out of a game, with threats coming from all over the pitch.

However, the next few days will really test the depth of this squad. With their injury list growing, Barcelona welcome European champions PSG to the Estadi Olímpic three days after this fixture. That will serve up a few selection dilemmas for Flick, and might just offer a glimmer of hope to Real Sociedad.

The Basque club opted for a change in the dugout in the summer, with long-serving Imanol Alguacil departing. As is often the case in San Sebastián, they recruited from within, with B-team boss Sergio Francisco promoted to the top job.

The jury is certainly still out on the new man. His team made a slow start to the campaign, only collecting two points from the opening five fixtures. A really poor second-half showing in a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis added to the pressure that was starting to build on the 46-year-old.

However, the response was a positive one. They had much the better of their midweek home game against Mallorca, and while La Real could have been more clinical, they were certainly good value for a 1-0 victory, sealed by a strike from their key man Mikel Oyarzabal.

There is no denying that they are no longer the force that made it to the knockout stage of the 2023/24 Champions League. Real Sociedad could still count on the likes of Robin Le Normand, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi then, but they’ve struggled to bring quality replacements in on a limited budget.

Their approach to the summer window was to target players who should be in the prime of their careers, with all four of their signings aged either 27 or 28. It has been a number of years since we’ve seen fresh additions Gonçalo Guedes or Carlos Soler produce their best football, though.

Team News

It has been a really negative week on the injury front for Barcelona. In-form Fermín hobbled off against Getafe last Sunday and remains sidelined, while that news was soon followed by a major setback for Gavi, who is now expected to be out until February after suffering a relapse following a knee injury.

Heading into a crucial week, the Catalans have also lost both Raphinha and goalkeeper Joan García to injuries, with neither expected back until after the international break. With Marc-André ter Stegen already sidelined, Wojciech Szczęsny is set for a run of games in goal.

Those selection issues will also make it tougher for Flick to rotate his team against Real Sociedad, as might have been the plan. Pedri and Ferran are certainly both due a rest. In better news, Lamine Yamal is fit again, but may only be used off the bench.

As for the visitors, they still haven’t been able to hand a debut to their injured new signing Yangel Herrera. Striker Orri Steinn Óskarsson is also out, while

Aritz Elustondo is rated doubtful. Francisco may make only light changes to the side that won in midweek.

Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Odds

Barcelona start as the 2/7 favourites to win this. The draw is on offer at 5/1, while you can back the visitors to cause an upset and claim all the points at 17/2.

If you fancy the hosts to brush off their injury problems with minimal fuss, you can back Barcelona with a -1.00 Handicap at 7/10. They are also priced at 8/11 to score over 2.5 goals, while you can back Barça to win to nil at 6/4, a winning bet in their opening two home fixtures.

Alternatively, Real Sociedad or Draw is priced at 5/2 in the Double Chance market. You can back the visitors to win either half at 11/4, while they are priced at 5/2 to score over 1.5 goals in the game.

Lewandowski leads the way as the 8/13 favourite to score anytime, while Ferran is also on offer at 4/5 in that market. Rashford is still waiting for his first goal in La Liga, and he’s priced at 1/1 to get it here.

From a visiting perspective, Oyarzabal should again be the main goal threat. The Spain international is priced at 10/1 to score first and 13/5 to score anytime.

Robert Lewandowski to score first @ 3/1

For the first time in his Barcelona career, Lewandowski has found his place in the team under threat. That’s despite the Polish striker netting 42 times in all competitions last term, but credit must go to Ferran, who has been favoured up top in a number of recent games.

The Spaniard is likely to be either rested, or used in a different role here, given the selection issues the hosts have in attacking midfield and wide areas. Lewandowski looks certain to rotate into the side up top, and despite only starting once, he has looked sharp in recent appearances.

The veteran forward has scored three times already in La Liga, at a rate of a goal every 54 minutes, and I’m backing Lewandowski to score first at 11/4 here.

Over 8.5 Real Sociedad shots & Over 2.5 Real Sociedad corners @ 8/5

While Real Sociedad have made a poor start in terms of results, some of the underlying data will offer more encouragement to their new boss. The Basques are averaging 16.2 shots per game, which is the fourth-highest figure in the Spanish top flight.

They are also averaging 8.33 corners per match, and 7.33 per road game. That won’t be much consolation to their supporters, who have watched their side continue to be wasteful in front of goal. However, it suggests they can be competitive against what may be a rotated Barça side.

I can see value in backing Over 8.5 Real Sociedad shots and Over 2.5 Real Sociedad corners at 8/5 using the Bet Builder.

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