Real Sociedad Vs. Villarreal Prediction: Duel Two Troubled Teams In Front Line

Sergio Gomez, is expected to bring victory to Real Sociedad (photo: x @RealSociedad ·)

JAKARTA - The match between Real Sociedad and Villarreal, which is scheduled for Monday night, January 13, is one of the interesting matches in La Liga competition. Both teams have different stories this season, where Real Sociedad is trying to solve problems up front, while Villarreal wants to continue their slick performance in the league.

This match is also Villarreal's first game in 2025 after a long break due to their elimination of the Copa del Rey, while Real Sociedad has just resumed their journey in the Copa del Rey.

Real Sociedad is currently in eighth position in the La Liga standings with 25 points from 18 matches. The team, coached by Imanol Alguacil, has a record seven wins, four draws, and seven defeats. Their biggest problem of the season is the inability to score.

Real Sociedad only managed to score 16 goals in 18 games, one of La Liga's worst records, only better than Getafe (11) and Real Valladolid (13). However, on the other hand, they showed toughness in the defense with just 13 goals conceded, which was the second best record in the league after Atletico Madrid. Despite the 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo on December 21, 2024, they managed to get up in the Copa del Rey by beating Ponferradina 2-0 and advancing to the last 16.

However, their game at home this season is far from satisfactory, with just 11 points from nine home games. This shows that Alguacil's side have their own challenges when playing in their homes. For the match against Villarreal, Real Sociedad hopes to reverse this bad trend and get positive results, especially as they will face a team that has very sharp attacks.

Meanwhile, Villarreal is in a more lucrative position. They sit fifth in the standings with 30 points from 18 matches, thanks to eight wins, six draws, and four defeats. The team, dubbed Yellow Submarine, had a sharp attack, with 34 goals created, placing them third for La Liga's record highs, after Barcelona and Real Madrid.

However, their defense was a bit of a problem with conceding 30 goals, which made them one of the worst defense teams in the league. Even so, a 5-2 win over Leganes on December 22, 2024 gave them a much-needed morale boost after going through six games without a win in all competitions.

Villarreal are very strong in away games this season, recording five wins from nine games outside their homes, losing only twice. They will enter this game with high confidence, especially after they managed to beat Real Sociedad 3-1 in the previous match at the Reale Arena last season. They wanted to repeat the success and record a consecutive away win over the Basque team for the first time since January 2020.

Even though Villarreal entered this match with confidence, they will still face a big challenge from Real Sociedad which has a strong defensive line. However, Villarreal's attacking performance could be a differentiator in this match, considering they have several creative players on the front lines who are able to score in large numbers.

Real Sociedad will experience some important absences in this match. Hamari Traore will be sidelined due to injury, while Martin Zubimendi is doubtful of appearing after experiencing problems with the ribs. Igor Zubeldia was also unable to play due to suspension, which might force Javi Lopez to step down as centre-back to replace Zubeldia, with Jon Pacheco remaining the first choice at the heart of defense.

In attack, Mikel Oyarzabal is expected to return as team leader. Takefusa Kubo and Orri Oskarsson are likely to be on the bench, ready to make a contribution when needed. Losing Zubeldia will also add to the burden in midfield, relying on players like Mikel Merino and David Silva to maintain the team's balance.

On the other hand, Villarreal is also facing several injury and suspension problems. Yeremy Pino, one of their mainstay players on the front lines, will be absent due to suspension. However, Willy Kambwala returned after undergoing suspension, providing additional strength in the back lines. Several players such as Nicolas Pepe, Ramon Terrats, Ilias Akhomach, and Alfonso Pedraza are still sidelined due to injury, limiting coach Marcelino's choice.

However, they still have players like Ayoze Perez who are expected to return after recovering from injury, and Thierno Barry, who scored a hat-trick in the win against Leganes, will continue to be a threat on the front lines. Gerard Moreno will also be an important choice to strengthen Villarreal's attack.

Real Sociedad is likely to field the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Remiro under the bar, assisted by Aramburu, Pacheco, J. Lopez, and Munoz in the back. In midfield, S. Gomez, Mendez, and Benat will play a role in managing the game, while Oyarzabal will lead the front line.

Villarreal, on the other hand, is likely to use a 4-4-2 formation with Junior on goalkeepers, supported by Femenia, Albiol, Costa, and S. Cardona in the back. In midfield, they will rely on Cabanes, Comesana, Gueye, and Baena, while in front lines, Perez and Barry will be the main threats.

Although both teams have their strengths and weaknesses, this match is predicted to be a challenging match for both teams. Villarreal, with sharper attacks and more solid formations, is predicted to come out victorious, even though Real Sociedad has a tough defense and can provide fierce resistance at home. Both teams will seek to get three important points in their efforts to improve their position in the La Liga standings.