Football
Real Sociedad vs Villarreal Preview: Tips, Odds and Prediction
Date: January 13, 2025 Kickoff Time: 22:00 Local Time (23:00 ET/ 13:00 PT) Venue: Reale Arena Villarreal ended 2024 on a high by beating Leganes 5-2 and will be looking for a similar result against Real Sociedad, in what is the first La Liga game of 2025 for both teams. Our preview of this game explores the possible outcomes, looks at past results and makes a prediction for sports betting enthusiasts on the lookout for La Liga betting insights.
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Real Sociedad v Villarreal CF - LaLiga EA Sports//Getty Images
Real Sociedad vs Villarreal: A Top Ten Showdown
Both teams come into the game with contrasting results in their last matches. The hosts suffered a 2-0 loss away at Celta Vigo, while Villarreal thrashed Leganes 5-2 away from home. Either team will have different motivations in this clash, as one seeks to bounce back, while the other would want to pick up where they left off, with a win, in this top-ten encounter.
Overall, Real Sociedad and Villarreal haven’t done badly looking at their current form. Both have lost twice and picked up seven and five points respectively. Villarreal boasts a better scoring return with nine goals scored in five, compared to the four scored by Sociedad.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Home: 19/25 (1.76) 56.8%
Draw: 53/20 (3.65) 27.4%
Away: 19/5 (4.80) 20.8%
*Odds courtesy of Sportsbet.io, subject to change
Head-to-Head Record
In La Liga, encounters between these two teams have served goals with no game ending scoreless. Real Sociedad hold the overall advantage with three wins compared to Villarreal’s two.
Last 5 Meetings
23/02/24: Real Sociedad 1-3 Villarreal
09/12/23: Villarreal 0-3 Real Sociedad
02/04/23: Villarreal 2-0 Real Sociedad
09/10/22: Real Sociedad 1-0 Villarreal
15/05/22: Villarreal 1-2 Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad Current Form – LDWWL
Imanol Alguacil will be looking for a quick turnaround in results in La Liga following a disappointing result in their last game. Celta Vigo scored two quick-fire goals just before halftime, a brace five minutes apart by Pablo Duran and held hold to a clean sheet to win the game by two goals.
Sociedad put that loss behind them though and were able to get their first win of the year in the Copa Del Rey Cup against Ponferradina by two goals. The win, although against a relatively weaker team that plays in Spain’s lower divisions, will be a much-needed boost for their opening La Liga match of 2025.
Villarreal CF v Real Sociedad - LaLiga EA Sports//Getty Images
Key Players to Watch
- Jon Aramburu: The right-back has played sixteen times this season for Sociedad and has a deadly combination down the flank with Takefusa Kubo. We expect him to play well in this match.
- Takefusa Kubo: The Japanese winger has been a regular feature in the starting lineup this season and can turn any defence on its head on his best day. He will be key at the Reale Arena.
- Sergio Gomez: Gomez has yet to find the back of the net this season but is a consistent feature on match days. His influence goes beyond scoring, with the ability to hold the ball for other attackers, and his assist tally of four speaks to this fact.
Real Sociedad Team News
Jon Aramburu inked a new deal with the team, set to run until 2026. While Nigerian forward, Umar Sadiq has departed for Valencia. Martin Zubimendi is out with a broken rib and is not expected to return for this match.
Villarreal Current Form – WDLLD
Following two straight losses to Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis, Villarreal were quick to turn around those poor results by drawing one game and winning the other. They have done well this season in La Liga though, and are sitting comfortably in fifth position, looking to force their way into a Champions League spot.
Their defensive record is the worst in the top ten, with thirty goals conceded. This is an area that needs improvement, especially on the road, where they have failed to keep a clean sheet in eight games.
Key Players to Watch
- Thierno Barry: With three goals scored the last time out in their 5-2 win over Leganes, Thierno Barry will come into this game with his confidence up. He will most definitely be Villarreal’s most important player on the pitch.
- Gerard Moreno: Moreno came on in the 46th minute to replace Denis Suarez in that very same game and scored from a penalty in stoppage time. We tip the manager to give him a start against Sociedad, with his confidence boosted after making an impact in his second-half appearance.
- Sergi Cardona: The Spanish fullback also had a good run in his team’s last game of 2024, and we believe he will produce a similar performance.
Villareal Team News
Villarreal could be open to new signings in the January window with injuries to key players. Ayoze Perez, Nicolas Pepe and Ramon Terrats are expected to make it back on time from niggling injuries but are doubtful starters. While Diego Conde and Ilias Akhomach will be out for longer periods.
Predicted Line-ups
Real Sociedad: 4-4-2
Remiro, Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz, Gomez, Sucic, Kubo, Oyarzabal, Mendez
Villarreal: 4-4-2
Junior Reis, Cardona, Costa, Albiol, Femenia, Moreno, Gueye, Comesana, Pino, Barry, Baena
Suggested Bets
Check out our suggested bets, ideal for more conservative options and safer markets, available through leading football sportsbooks.
Draw No bet – Real Sociedad: We tip the home team to win the game, but just in case they don’t, and Villarreal force a draw, your bet will be safe with this market. A Real Sociedad win is just as good as a draw, as both results will work in your favour. (21/50 with Stake)
Double Chance – Real Sociedad/Draw: Although Sociedad last beat their visitors at home in 2022, we predict that they will be difficult to crack this time around considering the latter’s poor away record this season. (8/25 with Stake)
Both Halves Under 1.5 – No: Three out of the last five games between these two have produced a result favourable for this market. We thus tip it to happen again based on that historical context. (11/20 with Stake)
Value Bets
Our value bets are well analysed to give you good returns on either of the markets we chose with big odds that will work in your favour.
Real Sociedad and Both Teams to Score – Yes: Although we do not tip Villarreal to win, their goal-scoring prowess and defensive frailties indicate that they have the potential to score and let in one or two. (3/1 with Bettilt)
Real Sociedad Exact Goals – Two: Imanol Alguacil’s team have the least goals scored La Liga’s top ten and we do not think they will score more than two in this game. (39/20 with Bettilt)
Highest Scoring Half – First Half: Real Sociedad have the best defensive record after Atletico Madrid and usually don’t let in much past the first half. We predict the first half to produce the most goals. (21/10 with Bettilt)
Prediction: Real Sociedad to Win
At home, we believe Real Sociedad have a better chance of winning against a Villarreal team that needs some improvement on their travels this season. The game will be tight though, with not much in the way of goals, although we predict both teams to score. (21/25 with Betway).
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jimmy holds a Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies. He’s a passionate sports enthusiast with broad knowledge across various disciplines.
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