Cadiz CF vs Real Sociedad prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2022-08-13 15:30.
If CĂĄdiz could choose an opponent to face in the opening round of a new La Liga (LL) season it almost certainly wouldnât be Real Sociedad, who are one of three clubs they lost to in all four meetings across the previous two league campaigns. Perhaps no member of the CĂĄdiz fraternity will be feeling the dread more than manager Sergio GonzĂĄlez, who has never defeated Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil (D3, L3) in charge of any club.
GonzĂĄlez should be upbeat though, with IvĂĄn Alejo, Ălvaro Negredo and Ălex FernĂĄndez all now set to make the matchday squad after various injury concerns during a disappointing pre-season. A famous final matchday win last LL season secured CĂĄdizâ LL status and in a bid to avoid another relegation battle, a fourth home LL victory in the last seven would represent a perfect start.
All things going to plan, Imanol Alguacil will at some point this season notch up the longest single tenure by any Sociedad manager since Alberto Ormaetxea in the 1970s-80s. Itâs therefore only fitting that he could join Ormaetxea as the only other boss to steer the club to four consecutive top-six finishes, starting with a sixth-successive away game to open a LL season (W2, D2, L1).
Brais MĂ©ndez and Takefusa Kubo may boost Alguacilâs diamond midfield as he looks to improve significantly on the meagre 40 goals scored last LL season, 30% of which were earned within their first six away trips of the campaign alone (W3, D2, L1). The absence of club captain Mikel Oyarzabal will hurt, especially as Sociedad were not the most consistent of travellers last campaign, with their 2-0 win at CĂĄdiz just one of five LL wins away to the ten bottom half clubs of 2021/22 (D3, L2).
Players to watch: CĂĄdiz have lost just one of their last 16 league outings when Choco Lozano was on the scoresheet (W10, D5), whilst Mikel Merino is the only Sociedad player to have scored in two of their last four LL away wins.
Hot stat: No team opened the scoring at home on fewer occasions in LL last season than CĂĄdizâs six (W3, D1, L2).