Barcelona will be aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in La Liga when they resume their domestic campaign with a high-stakes clash against Real Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium on Sunday night. Hansi Flick’s squad has set themselves apart as the leading team in Spain’s top tier this season, currently holding a nine-point advantage over second-placed Real Madrid at the summit of the La Liga standings. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad is sitting mid-table in 11th place, underperforming compared to pre-season expectations for the 2024-25 campaign.

Real Sociedad enters this encounter following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League, a loss that leaves them down in 25th place in that competition with only four points collected across four matches. Domestically, they’ve struggled to find consistency, posting a mixed record of four wins, three draws, and five losses from their first 12 league games, placing them in 11th with just 15 points.

Despite being only six points behind fourth-placed Villarreal and four ahead of Leganes in 15th, Real Sociedad has lacked the overall performance levels required to maintain a top-half finish. Their defensive resilience has been commendable—they’ve conceded only 10 goals, which ranks as the third-best in La Liga. However, their attacking prowess has left much to be desired, as they have also managed to score only 10 times, one of the least productive records among Spain’s elite.

The White and Blues have notably struggled at home this season, with just four points earned from six games played on their own turf. Their challenge intensifies as they prepare to host Barcelona, a team boasting the best away record in La Liga. Additionally, Barcelona has an impressive history against Real Sociedad, remaining unbeaten at Anoeta Stadium since April 2016 and winning 10 of their last 11 encounters across all competitions.

Barcelona heads into this match riding the momentum of a seven-game winning streak, including a 5-2 triumph over Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, which has propelled them to sixth place overall in that competition. Last weekend, they overcame Espanyol 3-1 in the Catalan derby, and they now sit nine points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga—although Real has played one fewer game.

Under Flick’s leadership, Barcelona has won 11 of their 12 league fixtures, suffering only one defeat while scoring a remarkable 40 goals. Robert Lewandowski has been in unstoppable form, contributing 19 goals and two assists in just 16 matches. Raphinha has also excelled, netting 12 goals and adding 10 assists in 16 appearances, while the young Lamine Yamal has emerged as a key player, with six goals and eight assists in 16 games.

Real Sociedad faces additional hurdles with several key players unavailable due to injuries, including Nayef Aguerd, Ander Barrenetxea, Benat Turrientes, Pablo Marin, Hamari Traore, and Arsen Zakharyan. Coach Imanol Alguacil is expected to make tactical adjustments, likely bringing Brais Mendez and Aritz Elustondo into the starting lineup. Mikel Oyarzabal should lead the attack, with Martin Zubimendi anchoring the midfield—his performances attracting interest from major European clubs.

Barcelona’s squad is also dealing with injuries, with Gavi still being cautiously managed following his lengthy absence. Alejandro Balde is anticipated to return at left-back, while Dani Olmo should reclaim a spot in the starting eleven. Frenkie de Jong, having featured in the Champions League, is expected to retain his place in midfield, while Pau Cubarsi could feature despite a recent facial injury. Absent players include Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Ferran Torres, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

With Real Sociedad’s inconsistent form and Barcelona’s excellent performance in recent matches, it’s challenging to foresee anything but a victory for the Catalan club. Flick’s high-flying squad, with their formidable attack, looks set to secure another three points as they push to maintain their lead before the November international break.

Best Tip: Barcelona win

Correct Score: 1-3