La Liga: Catalonia Coronation Awaits

Barcelona vs Real Sociedad

With the title now secured, there will be a party atmosphere inside the Camp Nou this weekend.

The newly crowned La Liga champions welcome Real Sociedad and are to get their hands on the trophy for the first time in four years.

So could it be the ideal time for the visitors to create some La Liga highlights of their own – and my word they haven’t many to talk about in the Camp Nou over the last 30 years – and strengthen their top four bid if the hosts are otherwise distracted.

Talking Points

Either way, there’s every reason to expect a Catalonia coronation after nine months in which Xavi Hernandez’s team have stretched every sinew to secure.

Remember, this was a campaign which began with Hernandez reportedly worried about the club’s financial situation.

Then it appeared the only way Barca could break back into the big time was by juggling the financial balls  so that is exactly what they did.

They splashed the cash, most notably securing Robert Lewandowski whose 21 goals in 30 league games means he has become the joint third quickest to reach 20 goals in the competition in the 21st century, after Julio Baptista in 2004 (30 matches), Radamel Falcao in 2012 (26) and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2010 (24) – good company indeed.

His double at Espanyol last weekend meant Lewandowski also moved four ahead of reigning world player of the year Karim Benzema in the Golden Boot race.

It’s not just the prestige of winning the title but also the financial benefits which the club need now.

Aside from the increase in profile and sponsorship opportunities, Barcelona are set to gain an extra €8.93 million in TV money as a result.

In total, they are expected to bring in about €103m, around €10m more than Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid, depending on who finishes second in the table.

Meanwhile in the Champions League next season, the club will once again be a top seed, which will affect their TV share, giving them 40%, an extra 10% over second place.

While this seems like relatively little in terms of the supposed €200m gap between Barcelona and their current salary limit , it could be the difference between a key player for next or not this summer.

First things first, though, as Saturday is all about a party.

As for Sociedad, a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty and a goal from veteran playmaker David Silva, who signed a one year contract extension with the club earlier this week, put the Basque hosts into a commanding lead against Girona last weekend before they were pegged back in a 2-2 draw.

They still need a few more points to secure a top four finish and Champions League football next season.

If they could seal a first win at the Camp Nou in 32 years, they will be almost home n’ hosed.

History

Overall, there have been 101 Barca victories in their head-to-head games in all competitions with 33 Sociedad successes and 36 draws.

Last season, this corresponding fixture ended 4-2 to the hosts with Gerard Pique, Martin Braithwaite (two) and Sergi Roberto finding the net – this after late goals from Julen Lobete and Oyarzabal had briefly threatened a comeback.

There was a flying start to their meeting earlier this season when Lewandowski fired them in front after just a minute before Alexander Isak, who was snapped up by Newcastle a week later, levelled within five minutes.

That was as good as it got for Sociedad as Ousmane Dembele, Lewandowski again and Ansu Fati hit three in a 13-minute second half period as the game finished 4-1 to the Catalonians.

Sociedad last beat Barca in 2016 when Oyarzabal, then 18, scored the only goal of the game for the San Sebastien men, then managed by David Moyes.

They have met a total of 17 times since then (13 in La Liga, three in the Copa del Rey and once in the Supercopa) and Barca have won 15 times with two draws.

The last time Sociedad won in the Nou Camp was in a league game in 1991 when, three days after Barcelona had been beaten by Manchester United in the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final, they lost 3-1 at home.

The English contingent of Dalian Atkinson and John Aldridge each scored before Julio Salinas netted a consolation.

Betting Tip

Barca are overwhelming favourites with the SBOTOP La Liga betting odds, priced 1X2 @ 1.67 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.23.

Sociedad are well adrift with odds of 1X2 @ 4.60 and Asian Handicap +0.75 @ 2.01.

A repeat of last season’s scoreline – Correct Score 4-2 – is on offer @ 55.00, while goal options include over 2.75 @ 2.20, total goal 0-1 @ 3.40, 2-3 @ 1.95 and 4-6 @ 3.65.

Despite the fact Sociedad could do with taking something out of the game, I cannot see beyond a home coronation.

 

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