Real Sociedad take on the visitors Celta Vigo in the round 36 match of Spanish LaLiga. The match will be played on Tuesday, April 13th at Reale Arena (San Sebastian).
Real Sociedad made a smart long-term investment by backing Imanol Alguacil. At the time, he was a relatively unknown coach whose main asset was his deep ties to the club as a former player and academy product. But perhaps that connection gave him the edge, as he led the team to great heights — a Copa del Rey title, a fourth-place La Liga finish, and qualification for the Champions League knockout stages. However, that European success coincided with a domestic slip, as they dropped to sixth in La Liga. This season brought more mixed results. They fell in the Copa del Rey semifinal to a Rüdiger extra-time winner and exited the Europa League after a 1-4 hammering at Old Trafford, having drawn the first leg 1-1 at home. Their league form has been inconsistent, with almost half of their matches ending in defeat — prompting plans for a managerial change this summer. They opened May with a goalless derby draw against Athletic Bilbao, but were then thrashed 0-4 away to Atletico Madrid.
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Celta Vigo continue to rise under Giráldez. The Galicians have shown flashes of ambition in recent years, recalling their strong Europa League runs in the past. That likely inspired the appointment of Rafa Benítez in 2023, but the veteran coach failed badly. Fortunately, his lesser-known successor Carlos Giráldez has been a revelation. He first steered the club to safety in 2023/24, collecting 40 points and avoiding relegation. This term, Celta are aiming higher — a push for eighth place could even earn a Europa Conference League ticket. Even in a loss to Real Madrid, they fought back from 0-3 to a respectable 2-3. And in their last match, they outgunned Sevilla 3-2 in a thrilling contest. Their form has sharpened at just the right moment.
Real Sociedad beat Celta both in La Liga and the Copa del Rey earlier in 2024. But in December, Celta got revenge with a convincing 2-0 home win in Vigo. The hosts are considered favorites, but this may be a case of overestimation. With Celta still fighting for a European place, back them to avoid defeat — and potentially win.
Prediction for the match: Celta Vigo to win with 0.0 handicap.
