Real Sociedad is experiencing its darkest period in a decade: only six points after nine matchdays, 18th place in the table. On Friday evening, the Basques welcome Sevilla FC to the Reale Arena, and despite this disastrous record, the bookmakers see the hosts as slight favorites. Sevilla, currently in 9th place with 13 points, have looked vulnerable away from home recently and will also have to do without defensive stalwart César Azpilicueta, who has suffered an adductor injury and will be out for several weeks.
The most recent encounters between the two teams have always been high-scoring: there has not been a single draw in the last five meetings, with Real winning three of those games. It is striking that Real have scored in the first half in four of their last five competitive games against Sevilla, while Sevilla have often struck back in the second half. Sevilla lost the most recent encounter in San Sebastián by a narrow 0-1 margin in March.
Both coaches are under considerable pressure: Sergio Francisco must provide answers after the disappointing 1-1 draw against Celta despite having a man advantage, while Matías Almeyda must reorganize his defense without Azpilicueta. Real are also worried about Takefusa Kubo, who is struggling with ankle problems. If he is unavailable, Gonçalo Guedes is a candidate for the starting lineup, although he is not currently in top form.
- Venue: Reale Arena, San Sebastian
- Date and time: 10/24/2025, 9:00 p.m.
- Competition: La Liga (Matchday 10)
The statistical patterns speak for themselves: both teams are highly likely to score. Sevilla has scored in each of its last five games, while Real Sociedad has scored and conceded in 80% of its matches. This offensive firepower combined with defensive weaknesses makes “Both teams to score: Yes” the logical main recommendation.
Particularly interesting: Sevilla scores around 80% of its goals in the second half, while Real Sociedad is tied at halftime in around 80% of its home games. The absence of Azpilicueta further weakens Sevilla’s defense, and if Kubo is missing for Real, this would affect the hosts’ offense.
An alternative is “Over 2.5 goals,” as Sevilla has reached this mark in around 80% of its games and Real Sociedad has shown similar patterns in four out of five encounters. For more cautious bettors, X2 (draw or away win) could be interesting, based on Sevilla’s relative form and Real Sociedad’s historically poor start to the season. The draw is currently trading at around 3.4, with an away win at around 2.0, although the odds vary depending on the bookmaker.
Important note: Statistics do not guarantee winnings. Injuries, tactical changes, or individual situations can greatly influence the course of a game. Bet responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose.
Real Sociedad form & record check
Real Sociedad is going through its worst phase in ten years: after nine matchdays, the Basques have only collected six points and are in 18th place in the table, level on points with Oviedo and one point behind Celta Vigo. Carlos Soler’s late 1-1 equalizer in Vigo brought short-term relief, but did nothing to change the negative streak.
They have only won one of their last five league games (1-0 against Mallorca), with three defeats against Rayo Vallecano, Barcelona, and Real Betis, as well as a draw against Celta. Their lack of punch is particularly evident in the first half: In four of the last five games, the score was 0-0 at half-time, with the team struggling to dominate early on or develop a convincing attacking rhythm.
The pressure on Sergio Francisco, who has been promoted from the reserve team, is growing steadily. Against Celta, Real benefited from a yellow-red card against Carl Starfelt, but even with a man advantage, they lacked efficiency. An Oyarzabal goal was disallowed for a minimal offside, and several clear chances went unused.
Takefusa Kubo did not train with the team after an unfortunate incident on Wednesday. He has been struggling with an ankle problem since September and could be missing or only partially available against Sevilla. Gonçalo Guedes, who has played in all nine games but has fallen well short of expectations, could be a replacement on the wing, even though he did contribute an assist in Vigo.
Real Sociedad are expected to start with their usual 4-2-3-1 system. The decisive factor is Takefusa Kubo: he twisted his ankle in training on Saturday and was unable to train with the team on Wednesday. If he is still not fully fit on Thursday morning, he may be ruled out. In the best-case scenario, he could play through the pain, but due to ongoing problems since September, it seems unlikely that he will be able to play at full capacity.
If Kubo is unavailable, Gonçalo Guedes is the most likely candidate for the right wing. Guedes is not in top form, but he has been available for all nine games and recently set up the goal in Vigo. His runs down the wing and crosses could be helpful against the Sevilla defense.
Karrikaburu would start at center forward, having impressed in Vigo with his runs and creating space for Oyarzabal. Alternatively, Soler or Zakharyan are available options, both in good form and capable of filling the offensive void left by Kubo.
Sevilla Form & Record Check
Sevilla are showing mixed signals under Matías Almeyda: after a spectacular 4-1 win over Barcelona and three wins from their last five league games, the club are in 9th place with 13 points from nine games. However, their recent 3-1 home defeat to Mallorca revealed major weaknesses and caused disillusionment.
Sevilla took the lead against Mallorca through Vargas, but completely collapsed in the second half. Muriqi equalized, and Joseph scored twice to seal the victory. Individual errors by Suazo, Marcao, and Januzaj, as well as a lack of defensive stability, were decisive factors in the defeat.
The team is productive in attack, scoring in each of its last five league games and scoring at least two goals in four of them. Defensively, however, Sevilla remains vulnerable, conceding goals in four of the five games, revealing a clear imbalance between attack and defense.
Almeyda is focusing on long-term team building with unconventional methods: asado evenings, trips to a yeguada, and similar measures are intended to strengthen bonds and trust. On the sporting side, he is calling for emotional balance and warning against excessive euphoria given the close gaps in the table.
The personnel situation is exacerbated by injuries: Azpilicueta is out for two to three weeks with an adductor injury, Nianzou has thigh problems, and González is injured. Odysseas Vlachodimos has replaced Jonas Nyland in goal. Palop praises Vlachodimos in one-on-one situations, but sees room for improvement in terms of game control and rebounds. Nyland is considering a winter transfer in order to gain playing experience.
Sporting director Antonio Cordón is currently scouting young talents such as Peruzzi and Gulli in Argentina. At the same time, there is speculation about the departure of captain Gudelj in the summer, whose contract is expiring, as well as a possible return of Soumaré from Leicester.
Coach Almeyda is expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formation. There are two absences: Azpilicueta with an adductor injury, who is expected to be out for two to three weeks, and Nianzou, who is experiencing renewed discomfort after resuming training.
In defense, Carmona moves to the right-back position, with Marcão and Salas forming the center-back partnership. Vlachodimos is in goal, while Nyland is considering a winter transfer in order to gain playing time for Norway’s World Cup preparations.
Agoumé and Mendy are expected to form the double six. In front of them, Juanlu, Sow, and Vargas could provide creativity, with Romero occupying the striker position. Gudelj, whose contract expires in the summer and whose departure is the subject of speculation, is expected to start on the bench.
Real Sociedad – Sevilla Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The record of the last five encounters is balanced: Real Sociedad won three games, Sevilla two, and there were no draws. The last meeting in March ended 0-1 for Sevilla, while in November 2024, Real Sociedad won 2-0 away.
Real Sociedad shows a clear trend: they have scored in the first half in four consecutive games, but have conceded at least one goal in the second half in each of their last three encounters. Sevilla, on the other hand, has been behind at halftime in four consecutive games, often scoring their goals in the second half.
Four of the last five matches have seen at least three goals scored, and both teams have scored in each of the last three games. The pattern is clear: Real Sociedad usually starts strongly, while Sevilla often comes back later in the game. A high-scoring encounter with chances for both teams seems likely, with a possible scenario of an early lead for Sociedad and a strong second half from Sevilla.
