Real Sociedad – Celta Vigo : Preview & Prediction
In a clash between two clubs with very different trajectories in the current season, Real Sociedad seeks to continue advancing in its fight to qualify for the Champions League by defeating Celta Vigo, which maintains a slim margin over the relegation zone in LaLiga Santander (LL). The Basque side go into the clash on the back of a three-game winless streak (E1, P2) with a 3-2 win at Espanyol, but despite the recent slump, the Blue and Whites are on their highest points tally in 21 LL matches (42 points) since 2002-03, when they finished second.
So far this season, only three teams in Europe’s big five leagues have collected more points on the road than Real, who will remain third for at least another week. In contrast to their outstanding away numbers (25/33 pts), Imanol Alguacil’s side is struggling at the Reale Arena, where they have won just two of their last five home league games (G2, E1, P2). Celta could be a favorable opponent to get back to winning ways at their stadium: Real have five wins over the Celestes (cumulative score: RSO 11-3 CEL).
Although they are 19 points behind Real, the team from Vigo has more than enough quality and capacity to beat the team from San Sebastian. The Celestes visit San Sebastian after seeing a two-game winning streak cut short with a 1-0 loss to Atleti, whose best player was Oblak, a real wall between the posts. “The result is a great injustice,” said Carlos Carvalhal after the match, but the Celeste coach also declared that his team “is getting better and better and looked a Champions League team in the eye.” This Saturday, Celta have the opportunity to string together league wins away from home for the first time since May 2021.
Celta’s 4-3 win over Betis in their last outing shows the offensive potential of the side from the Olivic city, which has been weighed down by their inconsistency on the road: going into this matchday, only three teams have lost more away games than Celta (six). Defensive fragility has been one of the causes, it should be noted that only Elche (bottom) recorded more away goals conceded (28) after 21 matchdays than the Galician side (19), with an average of almost two goals conceded per game away from Balaídos.
Players to watch: No player has scored more goals in LL since the resumption of the championship after the World Cup in Qatar than Alexander Sørloth with Real (G5). The Txuri-urdin defense will have to keep a close eye on Gabri Veiga, who has scored/assisted more goals than any other U21 player in LL this season (G6, A2). The Celeste youth academy product scored a brace in his team’s last outing.
Weekend stat: Real Sociedad have been held to a draw in only one of their last 12 home league games in which they have opened the scoring (G11, E1).
Real Sociedad – Celta Vigo : Betting Tips
Real Sociedad – Win Odds: 2.25
