Barcelona looks to go back to winning ways in La Liga against European football chasing Real Sociedad to stay in the hunt for the second place. Xavi's men were surprisingly beaten by relegation battlers Cadiz in Camp Nou last weekend to end their winning streak of seven games in the league.
Sociedad extended their unbeaten lead to five games but felt the chance goes missing with a 0-0 draw against Real Betis also in the hunt for European football. It kept three points off seventh-placed Villarreal and five points behind a Champions League berth.
RSO vs FCB Match Details
Date: Thursday 21 April 2022/ Friday 22 April 2022
Time: 21:30 (CEST)/ 01:00 (IST)
Venue: Reale Arena, San Sebastian
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Sociedad: DWWDW
Barcelona: LWWWW
RSO vs FCB Match Preview
It was an even game with Real Betis last Friday for a key battle for the European spot although Sociedad could have obtained more than a point had Alexander Isak converted his chances. The draw meant the Los Txuri-Udin remain in the Europa Conference League qualification spot. The top six sides, except for leaders Real Madrid, are in the contention for either Champions League or Europa League spots in a chaotic battle. Only six points separate the sixth from the second. So any drop of points is an advantage for others to pounce upon one's place. To make matters tight, Villarreal's late surge in league form has let them dream again for a spot in Europe and not rely only on their miracles in Champions League. This smells bad news for Sociedad wishing to cling onto their sixth position or go better. Their five games unbeaten run is a source of confidence to keep pushing Betis, three points clear in fifth for the Europa League. Champions League looks to be too much of an ask at the moment for the injury-ravaged team. Sociedad hopes to avoid dropping points again in facing an angry Barcelona side losing back to back games in all competitions.
Xavi's men thought lightning won't strike twice when they faced lowly Cadiz in the Camp Nou. Yet it did for consecutive games at the home. Two late goals from Barcelona made no aid to the already done damage by Frankfurt as they eliminated them from the Europa League winning 3-2 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate in the quarterfinals. Lucas Perez then rippled their net again this time in the league giving the club from the port an unlikely victory and three crucial points for their survival hunt. Xavi was bound to be unhappy with his team's showing as Barcelona got caught out by counters again and lacked the difference-maker on the side. The early fluent and encouraging football the team enjoyed in their previous 15 matches in all competitions faded in the last two. Pedri's injury further added to their misery whose absence clearly was felt in the game as he is a vital player in Xavi's tactics. With seven games to go, Barcelona's mission impossible for the league title has ended and the focus is truly now to secure Champions League football by confirming the second spot. It puts them in direct conflict with Atletico and Sevilla. Barcelona can't afford to lose more points for the same reason as their opposition on the night.
RSO vs FCB Team News
Real Sociedad will once again miss the service of Mikel Oyarzabal, Nacho Monreal, Ander Barrenetxea and Carlos Fernandez all out till the next month at least. David Silva was shown a red card moments after getting booked and he won't be featured on Friday. Returning to the right-back position is Joseba Zaluda having been suspended for the last game.
Barcelona are without star midfielder Pedri who is out for the season with a hamstring problem. Samuel Umtiti and Sergi Roberto have returned to training after a long absence but they are not in the first team picture. Ronald Araujo is set to return in the back four following his suspension in the last game as is Gerard Pique who has recovered from a tear in the adductor muscle. Dani Alves will also return after missing the Cadiz match with a sprained ankle.
RSO vs FCB Expected Lineups
Real Sociedad: Alex Remiro; Joseba Zaldua, Igor Zubeldia, Le Normand, Diego Rico, Cristian Portu, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Adnan Januzaj, Alexander Sorloth, Alexander Isak
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Dani Alves, Ronald Araujo, Gerrard Pique, Jordi Alba, Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Ousmane Dembele, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres
RSO vs FCB Head to Head
This is the stadium that troubled the Blaugranas a lot in the past but Barcelona haven't lost over here since breaking their winless hoodoo in 2017 with no loss against the side in all competitions in seven years. Their last win over here was a massive 6-1 victory in 2021 inspired by a classy Lionel Messi performance. Serginio Dest scored twice along with Ousmane Dembele and they remain the only players still at the club who got their names on the score sheet that day.
RSO vs FCB Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Remiro (8.5)
DEF: Alves (8.5), Araujo (8.5), Zubedia (8.5), Alba (9.5)
MID: Merino (9.5), Zubimendi (9), Busquets (8.5) F de Jong (9)
FW: Aubameyang (10), Isak (8.5)
