Anuncios
In a clash between two clubs with very different trajectories this season, Real Sociedad seeks to continue advancing in its fight to qualify for the Champions League by defeating Celta de Vigo, which maintains a slim margin over the relegation zone in LaLiga Santander ( LL). The Basque team arrives at the duel after ending a streak of three official games without winning (E1, P2) winning 3-2 at Espanyol, but despite the recent downturn, the blue and whites record their highest score in 21 LL games (42 pts) since 2002-03, the season in which they finished second.
So far this season, only three teams in the five major European leagues have collected more away points than Real, which will remain third for at least another week. In contrast to their outstanding numbers away from home (25/33 pts), Imanol Alguacil’s team is suffering more than necessary at the Reale Arena, where they have won only two of their last five league games at home (W2, E1, Q2). Celta could be a favorable rival to return to the triumphant path in their stadium: Real has chained five wins over the sky-blues (accumulated score: RSO 11-3 CEL).
Although they are 19 points behind Real, the team from Vigo has plenty of quality and ability to beat the San Sebastian squad. The light-blues visit San Sebastián after seeing a two-win streak cut short, losing 1-0 to Atleti, whose best player was Oblak, a true wall between the three sticks. «The result is a great injustice,» Carlos Carvalhal said after the match, but the sky-blue 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 link league wins away from home for the first time since May 2021.
Anuncios
Celta’s 4-3 victory over Betis in their last outing shows the offensive potential of the group from the city of Olívica, which has been weighed down by its irregularity at home: at the start of this day, only three teams have lost more games away from home than Celta (six). Defensive fragility has been one of the causes, and it should be noted that only Elche (bottom side) has recorded more goals against as a visitor (28) after 21 games than the Galician team (19), with an average of almost two goals conceded per game. out of 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 (W6, A2). The pearl of the sky-blue quarry signed a double in the last trip of his team.
Highlight: Real Sociedad have not gone beyond a draw in just one of the last 12 league games at home in which they have opened the scoring (W11, D1).