Real Sociedad vs Bayer Leverkusen

A handsomely-looking summer friendly at the Reale Arena pits Real Sociedad against Bayer Leverkusen.

Real Sociedad’s first top-four La Liga finish in a decade failed to produce the desired effect as Imanol Alguacil’s men lost both opening summer friendlies to Osasuna and Sporting CP by an aggregate score of 6-1, trailing by two goals at halftime on each occasion. ‘La Real’ have experienced mixed fortunes across their last six outings (W3, L3), with four of those results (wins/losses) featuring a single-goal margin at full-time. Another four saw the winner on the day concede precisely once, suggesting the better attack would stand a better chance of winning. However, the Spaniards have faltered against Leverkusen, losing all three historic H2Hs by a combined score of 5-1, including the last two without scoring.

Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen eked out a late European finish in a rollercoaster 2022/23 Bundesliga season despite signing off with a disturbing five-match winless streak (D3, L2). A gut-wrenching Europa League semi-final exit to Roma added insult to injury, especially given ‘Die Werkself’ failed to get on the scoresheet in both legs (0-1 A, 0-0 H). Xabi Alonso’s men have started their pre-season the same way they finished last season, going down 2-1 to second-tier German outfit Paderborn in their inaugural summer friendly. That disappointment took Leverkusen’s woeful winless run to eight matches (D4, L4), four of which saw them draw a blank.