LaLiga 2022-23: FC Barcelona vs Real Sociedad: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

The newly crowned Champions, Barcelona welcome Sociedad who are looking for their first win against the league leaders since 2016

A sigh of relief at Camp Nou, after three seasons without a title, Barcelona is back on the top in LaLiga. They were by far the most consistent team in the league allowing just 13 goals (the fewest in the league), so Xavi's team won the title four league rounds before the end.

Barcelona won the last three matches in a row, so their form is still very good. Last weekend, they won 4-2 on the road against Espanyol. Although Barcelona have won the title, we shouldn't expect the head coach to rotate the squad too much for the upcoming tie against Real Sociedad, Barcelona will want to celebrate the title with their fans properly.

Their visiting opponents, Real Sociedad have not lost any of their last five LaLiga matches (W3 D2) and have only once gone six games without defeat in the competition this season (G7 W5 D2 in January 2023). Real Sociedad played very well this season, with four rounds until the end of the season, they are close to fulfilling their season-long goal of getting back into the Champions League.

Real Sociedad are without a loss in the last five matches. After a draw against Girona, Real Sociedad's head coach Imanol Alguacil was still satisfied with his team's performance. He said that he felt that they deserved to win all three points. Also, Alguacil said he hopes that one point from that game will help Real Sociedad to soon secure the Champions League spot.

When it comes to this particular fixture, Barcelona have won each of their last 24 LaLiga home games against Real Sociedad, their longest current streak of consecutive home wins against a single opponent in the competition. Also, Barcelona have won 27 of their 34 games in LaLiga 2022-23 (D4 L3), their second-highest tally at this stage of the campaign (matched with three other seasons), after 28 wins in 2010-11 (W28 D4 L2) and 2012-13 (W28 D4 L2). So Real Sociedad will need to run on all cylinders to take a point out of this game.

Kick-off

Saturday, 20-05-2023, 03:00 pm (ET)

Sunday, 21-05-2023, 12:30 am (IST)

Stadium: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona

FC Barcelona Form (In All Competitions): W- W- W- L- W

Real Sociedad Form (In All Competitions): D- W- W- D- W

Player to watch

FC Barcelona: Robert Lewandowski

The Unstoppable goal machine, from Poland has scored 21 goals in 30 games for Barcelona in La Liga with 94 shots taken at a rate of 3.5 per game. After his brace against Espanyol, he became the fourth fastest player to reach 20 goals in the competition in the 21st century, after Júlio Baptista in 2004 (30 matches), Radamel Falcao in 2012 (26), and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2010 (24) which is an elite group of names to be included in considering his first season at the club.

It is an elite group to be a part of considering it’s just the start of his journey in Barcelona. He looks like the same player who left Bayern last season and continues to take his form and scoring record to new heights.

Real Sociedad: David Silva

The former City playmaker remains in his magnificent touch as he has been involved in a goal in each of his last two games for Real Sociedad in LaLiga (one goal and one assist) – only Antoine Griezmann (7), Lucas Robertson, and Vinícius Júnior (6) have provided more assists than him in 2023 in the competition (5). He is still the magician with the ball who exploits spaces and destroys the opposition when he is having the support of his attack and midfielders. He is capable of making astonishing moves on his own but his teammates will need to match his level to give him free movement around the pitch.

Match Facts

• Only Villarreal (28) have won more points thanks to second-half goals in La Liga this season than Barcelona (21).
• Only Celta de Vigo (7) have seen their opponents receive more red cards in LaLiga in 2023 than Real Sociedad (6, same as Cádiz).
• Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil has not won any of his nine managerial games in LaLiga against Barcelona (D1 L8) – they are one of only two sides he has faced where he remains winless against in the competition, along with Málaga (G1 L1).
• Real Sociedad have conceded six goals in a single LaLiga match only once in the 21st century, with that coming against Barcelona: a 1-6 defeat in March 2021.
• Barcelona have not lost any of their last 13 matches against Real Sociedad in LaLiga (W11 D2) since a 0-1 defeat in April 2016, winning each of the last six – only once have they won seven or more in a row against the Donostiarras in the competition (nine in October 1956).

Injury and Team News

FC Barcelona: Injury – Sergi Roberto (Hamstring) might be given rest since he’s recovering from the injury.

Suspension: Gavi

Real Sociedad: Brias Mendez (Hamstring), Martin Merquelanz (Knee Injury), and U. Sadiq (MCL Knee Ligament Injury) will be sidelined for their upcoming match

Head to Head stats

Matches – 20

FC Barcelona – 17

Real Sociedad - 01

Draws – 02

Predicted Lineups for FC Barcelona vs Real Sociedad

FC Barcelona Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)

M. ter Stegen, A. Balde, A. Christensen, R. Araujo, J. Kounde, F. de jong, Sergio Busquets, Ansu Fati, Pedri, Raphinha, R. Lewandowski

Real Sociedad Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)

A. Remiro, Aihen Munoz, R. Le Normand, Zubeldia, Gorosabel, M. Oyarzabal, M. Merino, M. Zubimwndi, T. Kubo, A. Sorloth, D. Silva

Match Prediction

Barcelona and Real Sociedad had two h2h matches this season; in the league, Barca won 4-1, while in the cup, Xavi's team won 1-0. Barcelona have an impressive defense at the home stadium. They didn't allow any goal in the last four games at Camp Nou.

Also, three of those four games went under 2.5 goals so not only it is difficult to stop Barcelona from scoring but equally difficult to score against them. Real Sociedad also have a good defense, they allowed only two goals in the last four matches. Also, we saw two or fewer goals in three of those four games, it might give them some boost to keep the rivals at bay but if Sociedad is expecting to spoil the party of the champions and come away with a point, they will need their all 11 players playing the best football they have displayed this season.

Prediction: FC Barcelona 3 - 1 Real Sociedad

Telecast

India – Jio TV

USA – ESPN+

United Kingdom - Free Sports

Nigeria – Supersport, StarTimes, Canal+