La Liga: Sociedad Really Do Mean Business!

Celta Vigo vs Real Sociedad

League leaders Real Sociedad aim to continue their excellent start to the season when they visit struggling Celta Vigo on Sunday afternoon.

Sociedad sit proudly at the top of the La Liga table after taking 14 points from their opening seven games, and we’re backing Imanol Alguacil’s high flyers to keep the momentum going at the Balaidos.

They meet a Celta side short on confidence and with a worrying injury list, the outcome being a run of defeats which has left them hovering just above the relegation zone.

Talking Points

Silva is happy to be back

By the time they take to the pitch on Sunday, Sociedad may well have lost their top spot as Real Madrid play Huesca on Saturday, and they will be keen to climb to the summit again by beating Celta.

According to the latest La Liga 2020 betting odds, alongside Sevilla and Villarreal, Real Sociedad appear to be best placed team to gate-crash the top three monopoly of Barcelona and the two Madrid giants.

Alguacil’s side has been in and around the European places in recent seasons but the signing of David Silva has inspired the rest of the squad to think bigger.

The former Manchester City legend has added world-class quality to an already talented squad and he has already made two assists.

He’s also picked up two yellow cards, which may be a sign that he has not yet quite adapted to the subtle difference between Premier League and La Liga tackling!

But winners need to show their teeth from time to time and Sociedad did just that with a 4-1 hammering of Huesca last week, and that meant the San Sebastian team had scored at least three goals in four of the last five league outings.

They drew a blank last night in a Europa League defeat to Napoli and will be keen to get back to winning ways at the Balaidos.

Strikers Mikel Oyarzabal and Portu have four goals each, while former Manchester United star Adnan Januzaj has weighed in with two.

With David Silva pulling the strings, Celta’s backline could be in for a torrid afternoon.

David Silva provided two assists in Real Sociedad's La Liga win over Huesca — Real Sociedad’s David Silva vies for the ball with Elseid Hysaj during the Europa League group F match vs Napoli

Celta short on numbers at the back

Celta Vigo’s La Liga 2020 results have been disappointing so far and have left Oscar Garcia’s side just a place above the relegation zone after seven rounds.

These are early days but losing can become a habit, and the hosts have not been helped by a depleted defensive unit.

Injuries to two goalkeepers in Sergio Alvarez and Ruben Blanco, and three defenders in Hugo Mallo, Kevin Vazquez, and Joseph Aidoo have left Celta Vigo seriously short on manpower in their own penalty area.

They have conceded eight goals during the last four games and picked up a solitary point.

A 1-1 draw at Levante last time out has at least stemmed the flow of three consecutive defeats, but Los Celestes know full well that Sociedad are an entirely different prospect to 19^th placed Levante.

The hosts are still relying on 33-year-old captain and striker Iago Aspas for goals. He’s scored three so far, with the latest coming in a 1-1 draw with Real Valladolid.

History

Recent form doesn’t give Los Celestes much to be cheerful about. They are without a win in five while Sociedad are unbeaten in four away games, winning each of the last three.

And Vigo have struggled badly at the Balaidos with just one win in seven attempts on home soil.

But looking further back, the head-to-head matches between these two teams are in the balance.

Celta Vigo won 17 of the clashes since 1993, one ahead of Real Sociedad on 16, and there have been 18 draws.

Last season, both games resulted in a 0-1 victory for the away side, Real winning at the Balaidos in October while Celta won in June in San Sebastian thanks to a penalty converted by Iago Aspas.

Betting Tip

	Celta Vigo vs Real Sociedad	Real Sociedad Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 1.79
	November 01, 23:00 (GMT+8)

Celta Vigo are at 2.83 to win this game, but if they can’t beat Levante I think that would be a stretch against the league’s top side.

Real Sociedad are at 2.41 to win and the draw is at 3.02, and while 1-1 is the most likely score line at odds of 5.33, I favour an away win.

Here at SBOTOP, we recently asked if Sociedad are for Real when they came up against Real Betis, and they responded with a thumping 3-0 victory and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a similar outcome here.

With Sociedad scoring freely and Celta conceding too regularly, an alternative bet on over 2.50 goals at odds of 2.29 is my second choice.