Alavés vs Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad head to the Estadio de Mendizorroza on Sunday night to take on a side which loves to take on the top teams, Alaves have recently frustrated Barcelona and Real Madrid and the league leaders are next in line.
Sociedad are top of the La Liga table, on 24 points, but only a single point ahead of Atletico Madrid who have two games in hand. Los Rojiblancos are at home to Real Valladolid on Saturday and so by the time they take to the pitch, Real Sociedad will likely be in second place, and hoping to regain their position at the summit.
The latest La Liga 2020 betting odds have Diego Simeone’s Atleti as favourites to win the Primera Division, ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid, but at around 15.00 Real Sociedad are still in the reckoning. A victory in Alaves is crucial though if Imanol Alguacil’s side is to maintain a challenge, but against and in-form team that will be no easy task.
Talking Points
Alaves’ attacking threat
Four points from their first six games left Alaves down in the depths of the table but their La Liga 2020 results have certainly picked up in recent weeks, and a run of five games unbeaten has lifted them up to 13th, and only one point behind seventh placed Barcelona.
Pablo Machin has his team playing with belief and they are happy to take the game to whoever is in front of them. Alaves beat Real Madrid last week with goals from Lucas Perez and Joselu, and only a late Casemiro consolation cast any doubt on the result. Los Blancos are not firing on all cylinders at the moment but they are still a team packed with quality and Alaves gave them quite a run-around, registering 11 shots and six on target. Alongside Perez and Joselu, Luis Rioja offered a real threat down the left wing, giving Lucas Vazquez a torrid time as Real struggled with the pace of Alaves’ front men.
Perez, top scorer with three goals, was on target in a 2-2 draw with Valencia the previous week, and Alaves showed again how comfortable they are against the best sides, playing out a 1-1 draw with Barcelona at the end of October. It was Machin’s defence which took the plaudits that night as the Blaugrana had 80 per cent possession and 25 shots, but could only equalise Rioja’s opener when Antoine Griezmann scored in the 62nd minute.
Can Sociedad thrive without Silva?
Real Sociedad are the top scoring team in the league with 22 goals and that’s why they currently sit at the summit of the table. Mikel Oyarzabal has been in fine form, bagging seven league goals already this season and is well supported by attacking midfielder Portu who has four.
A 1-1 draw with Villarreal ended Sociedad’s six match winning run in the league and that was the first time they lined up without summer signing David Silva. The former Manchester City midfielder is nursing a pulled hamstring and is doubtful for Sunday’s clash. Silva has added some real star quality to Sociedad’s line-up but he has missed the last two games after suffering his injury during the 1-0 victory over Cadiz, Real’s last win. Algiacil’s side has scored just once in the last two games, the first a goalless draw with AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.
Sociedad have the firepower for sure, but if Alaves defend as they did against Barca then it may need someone with Silva’s ability to unlock the defence and break them down.
History
It may come as a surprise to learn that Alaves have had the better of the head to heads, it did to me! The Basque side has won 15 to Sociedad’s 11 and there have been six draws in the 32 games played since 1999.
Alaves won the last competitive meeting by a 2-0 score line in June, and the two teams played out a pre-season 2-2 draw.
While the hosts are unbeaten in five, Sociedad have won four from five on the road this season, and are unbeaten in seven away from home.
Betting Tip
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Alavés vs Real Sociedad | Alavés Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.16 |
| December 7, 04:00 (GMT+8) |
The latest odds here at SBOTOP back Sociedad at odds of 1.75 to get back to winning ways, with Alaves at 4.26 and the draw available at 3.45.
A lot depends on whether Silva is fit, but his boss won’t play him unless he is 100 per cent, and as Alaves have shown they can attack and defend equally well against the top sides I can see the hosts getting another impressive result.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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