Real Sociedad vs Granada CF prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-09-01 12:00.
After securing a top-four finish and a subsequent UEFA Champions League berth last season, much more was expected from Real Sociedad than the three consecutive draws they’ve managed so far in 2023/24 – the first time they’ve opened a campaign in this manner since 1968/69! La Real also haven’t had so few points at this stage since 2015/16 under David Moyes, and current boss Imanol Alguacil seemingly has one huge problem area to address to get his side back on the right track – his attack.
Sociedad have managed just five shots on target across their first three games which has translated into two goals, a continuation of a theme from last season which saw them end as the lowest scorers in the top-five La Liga (LL) clubs. The Reale Arena may provide the boost his forwards require, as Sociedad are unbeaten in 11 home league matches (W6, D5), while they’ve scored at least twice on each of the last five occasions they’ve hosted Granada.
It doesn’t come much tougher than Granada’s first two away assignments since promotion, with this trip to Sociedad following an opening day defeat at the hands of Atlético Madrid (L 3-1). Paco López’s men have got off the mark since then via their 3-2 victory over Mallorca, which was described as a “huge effort” by the manager after opening the season with back-to-back two-goal losing margins.
It’s on the road where Granada’s fate could be decided, and they’ll need a huge improvement on last season’s exploits in that regard. Despite winning the second division title, they won just five of 21 away league games (D5, L11), while they failed to score in a joint-league high 12 matches on their travels – not good reading for a club who have won just three of their 27 trips to Sociedad (D6, L18).
Players to watch: Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo hit the target inside five minutes against Girona on matchday one, part of a run of three successive goals which opened the scoring on the day. Granada could field 36-year-old José Callejón here after he returned to LL for the first time in a decade. He scored the last time he faced Sociedad in Spain’s top-flight (May 2013).
Hot stat: Real Sociedad trailed at half-time just once in LL home games since the start of last season.