Sevilla vs Real Sociedad

Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is the venue as out-of-sorts Sevilla and European hopefuls Real Sociedad square off in an exciting La Liga clash.

Inspired by a club-record nine-match unbeaten H2H run against Sociedad in La Liga (W5, D4), Sevilla will be desperate to put an underwhelming four-game winless league streak to bed (D2, L2). Level on points with 18th-placed Celta Vigo, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ could head into the upcoming World Cup break in the drop zone unless they find a way to build on last weekend’s last-gasp 1-1 draw at fellow city rivals Real Betis. Worryingly for coach Jorge Sampaoli, his men have not won any of their six La Liga home fixtures this season (D3, L3), netting a measly average of 0.5 goals per game! Another busted attempt to put all three points on the board would see Sevilla go winless in 7+ home outings in La Liga for the first time since 1987.

On the other hand, reduced to ten men within the opening half an hour of play, Real Sociedad could only manage a 1-1 home draw against Valencia at the weekend, at least arresting a two-game losing La Liga run. However, the visitors’ underwhelming league form has seen them drop out of the European qualification spots, though they remain level on points with six-placed Osasuna. Sociedad’s see-saw form outside Reale Arena cannot inspire much confidence in Imanol Alguacil’s camp, with his men claiming six points from their last four top-flight travels (W2, L2). On a more positive note, ‘La Real’ have registered three triumphs across their last five La Liga visits to Andalusian clubs (D1, L1), as many as in their previous 13 games away from home against such rivals in the top flight (D2, L8).