Real Sociedad vs Villarreal Prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds

The Yellow Submarine eye a big win over the San Sebastian outfit.

In the heart of San Sebastián, where the golden sands of La Concha meet the culinary brilliance of pintxos bars, the final fixture of Matchweek 19 of LaLiga takes us to the Anoeta Stadium where Real Sociedad are scheduled to lock horns against Villarreal CF.

Real Sociedad currently sit in 7th position on the LaLiga table, showing flashes of brilliance in recent outings. Their form has been encouraging, with key performances across competitions. In their latest Copa del Rey fixture, they overcame Ponferradina in a commanding display to advance in the tournament. Additionally, their Europa League campaign remains strong, highlighted by a notable victory over Dynamo Kyiv.

In LaLiga, they come into this fixture on the back of a mixed bag of results, including a hard-fought win over Leganés and a goalless draw against Las Palmas. However, their last league outing ended in disappointment as they fell to Celta Vigo, a result they are eager to bounce back from.

With the aim of climbing further up the LaLiga standings, Real Sociedad will be banking on their home advantage to secure a crucial three points against Villarreal. The match presents a vital opportunity for Imanol Alguacil’s side to reassert themselves in the race for European qualification, as they look to deliver a strong statement at the Anoeta Arena.

🌧️ In the rain pic.twitter.com/YrJyL7h9fs

— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) January 9, 2025

Villarreal CF currently sit 5th in the LaLiga standings, but their recent patchy form have hindered their pursuit of a top-four finish. Despite their strong potential, a six-point gap with 4th-placed Athletic Club de Bilbao leave them with much to overcome. The Yellow Submarine know that securing a victory against Real Sociedad is crucial if they are to close that gap and reassert themselves as serious contenders for European football next season.

In their upcoming clash, Villarreal will be eager to shake off past defeats and focus on extending their recent positive results. A win would not only help them climb the table but also boost their confidence as they look to regain momentum in the second half of the season.

Kick-off:

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 1:30 AM IST

Venue: Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastian, Spain

Form:

Real Socidead (in all competitions): W-L-D-W-W

Villarreal (in all competitions): W-D-L-L-L

Players to watch out for:

Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)

Mikel Oyarzabal, the Spanish star who played a pivotal role in Spain’s triumph at UEFA Euro 2024, will be crucial for Real Sociedad as they aim to secure all three points against Villarreal. The 26-year-old centre-forward from Eibar has been a loyal servant of Sociedad since 2015, establishing himself as one of the club’s most reliable and talented players over the past decade.

As Sociedad look to climb the LaLiga table, Oyarzabal will be determined to lead by example, ensuring his team has the attacking firepower to secure a crucial victory. His ability to score and create chances will be vital in ensuring Sociedad leave with all three points from the upcoming match.

Alex Baena (Villarreal)

Alex Baena, the 23-year-old Spanish attacking midfielder from Roquetas de Mar, began his football journey with the youth team of Roquetas before making his move to Villarreal in 2020. Since then, Baena has been a key figure for the Yellow Submarine, making nearly a century of appearances and spending a brief loan period at Girona.

His impressive performances have not gone unnoticed, as he has earned eight caps for the Spanish national team and scored two goals. In the 2023-24 LaLiga season, Baena stood out as the top assist provider, further cementing his reputation as one of the brightest talents in Spanish football.

Match Facts:

• The home side have 29% win accuracy over their immediate opponents.
• Villarreal won a solitary game in their last five matches.
• Sociedad have won three of their last five matches.

Real Sociedad vs Villarreal: Betting Tips and Odds:

• Match to end in a draw – 12/5 with bet365
• Oyarzabal to score first – 9/2 with William Hill
• Real Sociedad 2-2 Villareal– 12/1 with Paddy Power

Injuries and Team News:

For Sociedad, Hamare Traore is set to miss the upcoming match.

For Villarreal, Diego Conde and Raul Albiol will be out due to injury issues.

Head To Head stats:

Total matches – 49

Real Sociedad won – 14

Villarreal won – 20

Matches drawn – 15

Predicted Lineup:

Real Sociedad predicted lineup (4-1-4-1)

Marrero (GK); Aramburu, Zubeldia, Pacheco, Lopez; Turrientes; Oyarzabal, Mendez, Olasagasti, Gomez; Oskarsson

Villarreal predicted lineup (4-4-2):

L Junior (GK); Femenia, Albiol, Costa, Cardona; Pino, Comesana, Gueye, Suarez; Baena, Barry

Match Prediction:

Despite Socidead having the momentum and home advantage in their favour, we expect this match to culminate in a jaw-dropping draw.

Prediction: Real Sociedad 2-2 Villarreal

Telecast Details:

India: GXR World Website

UK: Premier Sports and ITV

USA: ESPN+

Nigeria: SuperSport

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