A team that has just suffered a 4-0 defeat in Dortmund faces an opponent that has gone six league games without defeat. That is the setting for the clash between Villarreal, third in the table, and Real Sociedad, ninth, at the Reale Arena. Villarreal has been scoring consistently in La Liga, but suffered a bitter setback in the Champions League at Borussia Dortmund during the week. Real Sociedad has stabilized noticeably after a difficult start under coach Sergio Francisco, with four wins from the last five league games and an unbeaten streak giving the team confidence.
However, Real Sociedad goes into this game with personnel problems. Captain Mikel Oyarzabal is out until the end of the year with a thigh injury; he has been the team’s top scorer so far with five goals and a total of eight points. Herrera and Óskarsson are also out, leaving Umar Sadiq as the only classic center forward available. Villarreal must replace Logan Costa and is mindful of Juan Foyth’s absence after his red card in the European Cup, even though his suspension only applies to international competitions.
A direct comparison promises an open, high-scoring duel. The match in April ended 2-2, and the last five encounters have each seen more than 1.5 goals scored. Real Sociedad has recently shown mental strength and comeback qualities, especially in their 3-1 win over Osasuna after falling behind early. Despite the strain of the midweek fixtures and the clear defeat in Dortmund, Villarreal remain dangerous in the league, but Sociedad’s form and unbeaten run make the Basques a tough test. A close, competitive game with chances at both ends seems most likely, with a draw or a narrow away win both plausible scenarios.
- Venue: Reale Arena, San Sebastian
- Date and time: 11/30/2025, 2:00 p.m.
- Competition: La Liga (Matchday 14)
The betting markets rate Villarreal slightly stronger, with odds of around 2.5 for Villarreal and 2.8 for Real Sociedad. La Real’s tense personnel concerns could reinforce this trend somewhat. Under these circumstances, betting on Villarreal to win is an interesting option, but remains risky due to the away factor and the Basques’ strong form.
For Real Sociedad, the loss of captain Mikel Oyarzabal weighs heavily, as he is out until the end of the year and was currently the top scorer with five goals this season. Added to this are the absences of Herrera and Óskarsson, which means that important creative elements and set-piece players are missing, a noticeable blow to offensive pressure and variety on set pieces.
On Villarreal’s side, the league table speaks for itself, with the team just three points behind Real Madrid. Gerard Moreno has regained his momentum after his injury break, scoring a hat trick and being named Player of the Month, while Alberto Moleiro, with four goals and two assists, is bringing additional momentum to the offense. Overall, Villarreal look solid in the league and dangerous up front at all times.
Interestingly, both teams show clear scoring trends. Real Sociedad have scored in each of their last five games and conceded in four of those games, often with both sides scoring, and have produced more than 1.5 goals after the break in 80% of their recent encounters, remaining unbeaten in the process. Villarreal has scored more than 1.5 goals in 80% of its last games, often playing in a more controlled manner before the break with less than 1.5 goals in the first half in 80% of cases, before the game opens up in the second half.
This gives rise to a number of obvious betting ideas, each with its own risk profile. Villarreal to win is attractive due to Real Sociedad’s personnel situation and the visitors’ form in La Liga, but it is clearly risky. Both teams to score: Yes is a good option because La Real scores regularly and Villarreal is usually strong in attack. More goals in the second half or over 1.5 goals after the break – second half fits the pattern of both teams scoring more frequently after the break. Those who want to combine, for example, Villarreal to win plus both teams to score: Yes, will receive higher odds, but also take on significantly more risk.
Real Sociedad form & record check
Real Sociedad is currently in remarkably good form, with four wins and one draw in its last five competitive games and three consecutive wins in the league. La Real scored in all five games, with more than 2.5 goals in four of them, and although the defense regularly conceded goals, none of these games were lost. In the 3-1 win at Osasuna, Real Sociedad came back from an early goal down with strikes from Brais Méndez, Guedes, and Barrenetxea, dominating the second half in particular. The team also kept their nerve in the close games against Athletic Club (3-2) and Sevilla (2-1), with only the 1-1 draw at Elche preventing them from securing the win.
Real Sociedad are ninth in the table with 16 points, level on points with Sevilla and just one point behind Athletic Club. Their slightly negative goal difference of minus 1 hardly reflects their current momentum. After a bumpy start to the season, the Basques have stabilized and, if they can maintain their form, could quickly set their sights on a European spot. This path is made more difficult by the personnel situation, with captain Mikel Oyarzabal out indefinitely with a muscle injury to the back of his left thigh, Herrera suffering from calf problems, and Óskarsson out until the end of the year. Nevertheless, the team is showing that it has depth and scoring ability across the squad, even if Oyarzabal’s creativity and presence in the final third are clearly missed.
Real Sociedad are expected to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The absences of captain Mikel Oyarzabal with a muscle injury to the back of his left thigh, Ander Herrera in midfield and Óskarsson in attack mean that there will be changes, particularly in the offensive line-up. In attack, there is a lot to be said for Umar Sadiq as the lone striker, behind whom an attacking trio of Takefusa Kubo, Mikel Méndez, and Gonçalo Guedes should provide pace, crosses, and creativity. In the double six, Martín Zubimendi or Turrientes will likely be responsible for balancing defense and build-up play alongside Carlos Soler. In the back four, Íñigo Martínez or Zubeldia are expected to partner Duje Ćaleta-Car at center back in front of goalkeeper Alex Remiro, so no major changes are anticipated in defense. The team will try to compensate for the absences up front and on the wings with quick transitions and a high work rate from Kubo, Méndez, and Guedes, while Turrientes and Soler will provide stability in the center and a well-rehearsed defense will ensure the necessary balance.
Villarreal Form & Record Check
Villarreal currently sits in third place in La Liga with 29 points, just two points behind Barcelona and one ahead of Atlético, and the team is in excellent form, having won its last three league games, including a 4-0 win over Rayo Vallecano and most recently a 2-1 win over Mallorca. In the Champions League, however, the picture is different, with a recent 4-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund, including a red card for Juan Foyth in the 52nd minute, and a previous 1-0 defeat against Pafos. Internationally, they have so far lacked the consistency they show domestically.
Offensively, however, things are going much better in the league. Gerard Moreno is once again a key player after his injury break, with three goals in November and a nomination for Player of the Month, and Alberto Moleiro has established himself as a real discovery with four goals and two assists. The positive goal difference of plus 15 underlines the effectiveness of the attack. Looking ahead to the game at Real Sociedad, currently ninth and on the rise, a difficult away game now awaits. Villarreal want to shake off the disappointments in the Champions League and continue their strong league form. If they can build on their recent league performances, maintain discipline, i.e., avoid red cards, and play their fast transition game cleanly, the visitors will appear to be in slightly better shape overall.
Coach Marcelino is likely to opt for a classic 4-4-2 formation for Villarreal. Luiz Júnior is expected to start in goal, with a back four of Foyth, Mouriño, Veiga, and Cardona in front of him. Logan Costa and Kambwala are both out with injuries, limiting the options in central defense. Comesaña, Partey, Gueye, and Buchanan could start in midfield, providing stability, strength in challenges, and pace on the wings. Gerard Moreno will take on the central role in attack, having scored three goals in November and been nominated for Player of the Month, with Mikautadze expected to partner him up front. Parejo, Moleiro, and Pépé, among others, are ready on the bench, giving Marcelino additional options for periods of possession or fresh attacking impetus.
Real Sociedad – Villarreal Head-to-head & statistics
The record of the last five direct duels between Real Sociedad and Villarreal is balanced, with both teams celebrating two wins each, plus a 2-2 draw in April 2025, so no clear dominance can be deduced from this series. At least two goals were scored in four of these five games, with the last three games consistently producing more than 1.5 goals. Real Sociedad scored in 80% of these encounters, while Villarreal conceded goals in 80% of cases, painting a picture of high-scoring but unpredictable games on both sides.
Looking at previous seasons, a rather inconsistent pattern emerges. In the two seasons prior, the home team won once and lost once, with examples such as Real Sociedad’s 1-0 home win in January 2025 following a 3-0 away win in December 2023. Villarreal won 3-1 away in San Sebastián in 2024 and had already won 2-0 at home in 2023. Overall, the recent head-to-head matches have been high-scoring and difficult to predict. Statistically, the frequency of goals and the high rate of games with goals from Real Sociedad suggest that another open game with chances at both ends can be expected this time around.
