Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
The much-anticipated return of Arsen Zakharyan could happen in the upcoming fixture between Real Sociedad and Villarreal. It's imperative for the Basque side to overcome Villarreal in order to keep their Champions League hopes on track.
Real Sociedad
A victory against Barcelona in mid-November (1:0) revealed the true potential of Real Sociedad, who have secured eight wins in their last 11 matches. In the Copa del Rey against Ponferradina (2:0), the team made their mark with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Brais Méndez after the break, recording 1.16 xG with seven shots on target, facing a Segunda Division opponent that also posed threats with 1.64 xG. On home turf, the Basque team have been prolific, scoring eight times in their last five matches.
Villarreal
Meanwhile, without involvement in European competitions, Villarreal have slipped into obscurity among other stagnant Spanish clubs. They were eliminated from the Copa del Rey early in December following a loss to Pontevedra (0:1), yet they ended 2024 with a comprehensive 5:2 dismantling of Leganes. Since the start of November, Villarreal have amassed 15.04 xG over seven games, trailing only Barcelona (19.04) and Real Madrid (19.12), both of which played an additional match.
Real Sociedad vs Villarreal Prediction
Over the last five years, Real Sociedad and Villarreal have clashed in 10 direct meetings, with both sides scoring at least two goals in nine of those matches. The encounter in San Sebastian is expected to be action-packed, as both teams aim to boost their standings.
