Real Sociedad vs Elche prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-03-18 15:15.
Splitting their focus across multiple competitions this season seems to have caught up to Real Sociedad, as winning only once in their last ten matches (D5, L4) has shrunk their responsibilities massively. Firstly, their Copa del Rey dreams were extinguished by Barcelona, while in midweek their UEFA Europa League efforts proved futile after Roma banished them from Europe, all whilst their once firm grip on a top-four place in La Liga (LL) slowly loosened.
Perhaps concentrating solely on their league duties will help Imanol Alguacil’s men stem the tide, especially at the Reale Arena where the misery of a four-match winless run (D3, L1) has been compounded by a solitary one goal return across those games. The White-Blue will see the visit of Elche as the perfect opportunity to get back on track though, as against no other side have they played more home LL matches without ever losing (18 – W16, D2).
Although a despondent Elche seem destined for the drop, LL’s bottom club have been willing to put up a fight after securing a win and a draw across their last two matches. That uptick in form may be short lived though, as they’ve lost on each of their last five visits to sides in the Basque Country in LL, while failing to score in all but one of those games.
Even if they were to win here, the 13-point gap between themselves and safety prior to the weekend seems insurmountable. Unless manager Pablo MachĂn gets his team to a point where they no longer possess the league’s worst defence with 49 goals conceded, fewest wins (2), and most losses (16), then their survival hopes seem non-existent.
Players to watch: Sociedad’s Brais Méndez has scored the game-winner with six of his ten goals this season, including the 1-0 win over Elche in August. Lucas Boyé will look to provide the spark for the visitors, and he tends to travel well having scored six of his last eight goals on the road.
Hot stat: Prior to the weekend, only Ligue 1’s bottom side Angers (31) have conceded more first-half goals than Elche’s 30 this season across Europe’s top-five leagues.