Sociedad and Bilbao Expected to Draw in the Race for Europe
Real Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao - 14/01/2023
9042
Two sides trying to get into Europe for next season will meet in La Liga this weekend as Real Sociedad welcomes Athletic Club to the Reale Arena on Saturday night with both teams separated by four places in the league table.
Sociedad have managed to finish in the top six over the past two seasons and the club head into this one with 10 wins from the 16 outings and they are in a much better position this year in terms of clinging onto their Champions League spot.
In the past two campaigns, they have let go of the top four and had to settle for a spot in the Europa League instead.
In fact, Sociedad have won two more games than Real Betis in fourth and they come into this one with a four-point gap on them in fourth, although they are behind Real Madrid in second by six points.
Sociedad have the best defensive record in the league after the El Clasico giants, as they have conceded 17 times in 16 games.
What's more, only Athletic Club themselves and Girona down in 12th have scored more goals from those sitting behind the top two serial winners in La Liga.
Imanol Alguacil's side are on a fantastic run of form since the action resumed in La Liga after the World Cup break, keeping four clean sheets in all four games and winning them all too.
The run started with a comfortable 5-0 win over Coria in the Copa del Rey, before going on to beat Logrones by a narrow 1-0 scoreline in the Copa del Rey round of 32. It now means they have set up a round of 16 battle coming up against Mallorca.
Furthermore, Sociedad defeated Almería 2-0 and Osasuna 2-0 in their La Liga games to keep them in third.
As for Athletic Club, they have drawn both their La Liga games since returning, registering a 0-0 draw with Real Betis and a 0-0 draw with Osasuna.
It keeps the club in seventh in the Spanish top flight and behind Real Betis in fourth by just two points. A win here will be Bilbao’s best chance yet to get into the Champions League spots.
They too have eased into the round of 16 in the Copa del Rey, beating Sestao 1-0 back in late December, before smashing Eldense 6-1 away from home in the round of 32 battle nine days ago.
Forebet predicts a draw here and for the game to see under 2.5 goals.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
Es1
313830
X
1 - 1
2.21
15°
3.10
2.45
3.10
2.90
no
no
no
3 - 1(2 - 1)
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