Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 12/08/2021, 13:43  by Nella Wagah | Modified on 12/08/2021 at 13:46 in LaLiga Predictions

Barcelona start life without Lionel Messi with a home game against Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday. Their talisman has left for PSG in a swift move that happened in under one week, and the Spanish giants have to move on fast enough. A 3-0 win over Juventus in the final preseason game may just be the perfect tonic for them to deal with the star’s exit. They go to this game with four wins in the last five matches and haven’t shown signs of missing the Argentine, scoring three or more goals in the four wins. Their only loss in the five matches was against Salzburg, and all the five have produced over 2.5 goals. New signing Memphis Depay has settled in well and had a good preseason, while Martin Braithwaite and Riqui Puig have also shown great form in attack. Really, with these players in, Barcelona should not struggle after Messi’s exit, and the Catalans look good for an opening win.

Real Sociedad were the surprise team last season in La Liga, brushing shoulders with the big four before eventually finishing fifth. They go into this game with three wins in their last five matches and remain a formidable side, especially in attack, having scored in four of their last five matches. Three times in those five matches, they have scored two or more goals, but they have no clean sheet, and have lost two of the last three matches. They will be happy not to be facing Lionel Messi in this game; in the teams’ last meeting, Barcelona won 6-1, with Messi scoring two and assisting one. Generally, Real Sociedad haven’t had a great run against Barcelona – they have no win in the last 13 meetings, losing 10 of them.