Real Sociedad take on the visitors Villarreal in the round 19 match of Spanish LaLiga. The match will be played on Monday, January 13th at Reale Arena (San Sebastian) .
Real Sociedad regard Imanol Alguacil's tenure as a significant breakthrough. His leadership has delivered a Copa del Rey triumph and a coveted fourth-place finish in La Liga. Last season's modest results were largely attributed to their return to the Champions League, where they progressed to the knockout stages, demanding much of their energy. However, this season started poorly across all competitions. To their credit, the team has shown signs of recovery. In the Europa League, after earning just four points from their first four matches, they defeated both Ajax and Dynamo Kyiv, rekindling hopes of advancing. In La Liga, they rebounded from four losses in their opening six games, suffering defeats only to Osasuna and Betis until recent disappointing results—drawing 0-0 with Las Palmas at home and losing 0-2 to Celta Vigo in Vigo. December began positively with a Copa del Rey win over Ponferradina. Real Sociedad’s home form, typically their strength, has been inconsistent recently, raising concerns about their ability to maintain momentum. Despite some key injuries, their European resilience suggests they could soon regain their domestic stability.
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Villarreal faced a shock Copa del Rey exit to minnows Pontevedra last month, followed by league losses to Athletic Bilbao and Betis. However, under Marcelino’s steady guidance, the team has improved, earning a draw with Leganés and demolishing Leganés 5-2 shortly after. Marcelino’s return to Villarreal over a year ago helped stabilize the squad after a period of disarray. While the team failed to secure European qualification last season, they are now comfortably holding fifth place in La Liga with 30 points, narrowly edging out Mallorca on tiebreakers. Villarreal’s attack has been particularly potent recently, with Gerard Moreno finding form and key players contributing across the pitch. However, defensive lapses remain an issue, especially against stronger opponents. To challenge Real Sociedad away, Villarreal will need to balance their offensive ambitions with a more disciplined defensive setup to secure a result.
Over the past three La Liga seasons, these teams have alternated victories, with each side winning once per campaign. Real Sociedad is the clear favorite at home, but Villarreal’s recent form and attacking prowess make them a dangerous underdog. Betting on Villarreal with a +1 goal handicap seems a prudent choice.
Prediction for the match: Villarreal to win with +1.0 handicap.
