Real Sociedad vs Villarreal prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-01-12 20:00.
[p]Real Sociedad are not only struggling through their worst 18-game start to a La Liga season since 2018/19, but endured an uncertain winter break during which head coach Imanol Alguacil failed to sign a contract extension by the turn of the year. Things were looking up not too long ago when they collected four wins ‘to nil’ in a five-game period, before setbacks against Las Palmas (D 0-0) and Celta Vigo (L 2-0) halted their charge for the top six. [/p]
[p]Their progress up the table had also been restrained by struggling against the current top-six (W1, D1, L3), but they made some progress on that front late in 2024 with a famous 1-0 win over Barcelona. Irrespective of those mixed results, they may have to produce some of their best football of the season to bridge the deficit to fifth-placed opponents Villarreal, but a five-match unbeaten home run (W4, D1) suggests they can. [/p]
[p]Villarreal have had some difficulties of their own with regularly defeating the best teams in the competition, which is why they had to settle for a six-point gap to fourth-placed Athletic Club during the break. Manager Marcelino lamented “a difficult December”, pointing in particular to the fact they conceded the match opener in each of their last four league outings (W1, D1, L2). [/p]
[p]That was even the case in their 5-2 win at lowly Leganés, where they had to come from behind twice. Whilst that victory meant that Villarreal go into this round a top-four side in the away table, they have picked up just two wins from their six La Liga road trips as underdogs this season (D2, L2), although perhaps a trip to Sociedad can help improve that record considering they’ve only lost twice in San Sebastian across their last 12 La Liga visits (W7, D3).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Sociedad need a return to form for Mikel Oyarzabal, not least because they won ‘to nil’ on all six of his competitive goalscoring appearances this season. On a similar note, Villarreal have picked up 13 of a possible 15 points when Thierno Barry has scored this season, including his hat-trick in the win at Leganés.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: 13 of Sociedad’s last 15 La Liga matches produced under 2.5 total goals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]