Real Sociedad vs Villarreal Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Joel Amorim Dec 18, 2015 @ 02:00 am

Next Sunday, 20th of December 2015, an extremely moralized Villarreal will travel to San Sebastian to measure forces with Real Sociedad at Anoeta for Round 16 of the Spanish Liga BBVA.

Last weekend, Villarreal put up a splendid performance against Real Madrid at El Madrigal and because of that were able to grant their eighth win of the season. An early goal by Roberto Soldado after a good assist from Cédric Bakambu allowed the Submarino Amarillo to gain control of the match and to push the visitors against the ropes on several occasions. It is fair to say that Real Madrid were nothing but a shadow of what they used to be, especially in the first-half, but the overall quality of Villarreal’s game is completely undeniable.

The Comunidad Valenciana team extended their good run last Thursday’s night after beating second tier side SD Huesca at home by 2-0 for the second-leg of the 1/16 finals of the Copa del Rey. Villarreal managed to invert a negative result from the first-leg match at Aragon earlier this month by winning 4-3 on aggregate.

Next weekend’s fixture at Anoeta will most certainly not be an easy one for Marcelino Toral’s men, but they will surely try to take the most from the home side less impressive moment. Adrian, Leo Baptistão, Bonera and Mario Gaspar remain sidelined due to injury and will miss out there.

As for Real Sociedad, the Basque team are not having a very good season start so far and they are currently in the 13th place of the table with just 16 points from 15 matches.

After last weekend’s draw at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez against Getafe, Real Sociedad were eliminated from the Copa del Rey after being held to a draw by UD Las Palmas at Anoeta in the middle of the week. The islanders won 3-2 on aggregate, thus placing another rusty nail in Real Sociedad’s already perforated coffin.

Imanol Agirretxe, David Zurutuza and Joseba Zaldua are still recovering from their injury problems and they are in doubt for next weekend’s match against Villarreal.

Mikel González will not be part of Eusebio Sacristan’s choices for next Sunday’s clash since he is not yet recovered from an hamstring injury.

Real Sociedad

Stats: W-1 L-2 D-2

Recent Form - DDWLL

Villarreal

Stats: W-3 L-1 D-1

Recent Form - WWDWL

Possible Line-ups

Real Sociedad (4-2-3-1) – Rulli - Elustondo - Reyes - Martinez - Berchiche - Granero - Illarramendi - Vela - Canales - Bruma - Jonathas

Villarreal (4-4-2) - Areola - Marin - Bailly - Ruiz - Costa - dos Santos - Bruno - Trigueros - Suárez- Bakambu - Soldado

Injury List / Suspended Players

Real Sociedad - Imanol Agirretxe (in doubt) - David Zurutuza (in doubt) - Joseba Zaldua (in doubt) - Mikel González (inj)

Villarreal - Leo Baptistao (inj) - Daniele Bonera (inj) - Mario Gaspar (inj) - Adrian (inj)

Head-to-head matches:

League Positions