Is Anderlecht’s victory over Ferencváros in the first round of the Europa League a sign of their resurgence or just a one-off episode? Read on to find out, as well as the latest on Real Sociedad, whose recent performances have been far from impressive.
Both teams are currently placed below expectations in their respective national leagues, but the Basques face stiffer competition. Real Sociedad sold Mikel Merino to Arsenal but were fortunate to retain Martín Zubimendi, who was targeted by Liverpool. At least until winter. Zubimendi holds the midfield, but this hasn’t greatly impacted their attack: they have only one win in their first seven La Liga matches. Before this Monday, they had a four-match goalless streak. They broke the drought in a home game against Valencia, scoring two late goals to secure a 3:0 demolition. Even Giorgi Mamardashvili couldn’t stop three out of six shots on target, and their 3.40 xG was the best of the season. A 1:1 draw with OGC Nice was also a positive result, considering their two shots on target and an xG of less than one (0.74).
On the other hand, Anderlecht’s victory over Ferencváros in the first round of the Europa League didn’t signal a return to consistent wins, following a four-match winless streak in the Belgian league. Despite having a significant advantage from the start, the team managed to score only after an hour. Ferencváros pulled one back late, turning the game into a challenge for the hosts. After their European success, disappointment followed back in Belgium, as Anderlecht failed to beat newcomers FCV Dender, allowing them to create more chances (1.46-1.61 xG).
After such performances from the Belgians, it's hard to foresee anything other than a Real Sociedad victory.
