Real Sociedad vs Valladolid Predictions

• Last weekend’s thumping 3-0 win over Valencia marked Real Sociedad’s third consecutive league victory at home, and their seventh win from eight in all competitions.
• Valladolid travel to San Sebastian having won just one of their last eight away La Liga matches (W1, D4 and L3).
• Pucela have won just two of their last 13 top flight games overall (W2, D6 and L5), with those successes coming against bottom three opposition.

Sociedad send out big statement against Los Che

With the race for the top four heating up, Real Sociedad are beginning to hit their stride at just the right time. Boosted by their run to the Copa Del Rey semis, Txuri-urdinak have won three of their last four La Liga games and their last three league outings at home, following a resounding 3-0 victory against Valencia at Reale Arena last weekend.

While Valencia hardly travelled to San Sebastian in the best of shape after a number of heavy beatings in the past few weeks, Sociedad deserve huge credit for how they put Los Che to the sword.

Imanol Alguacil’s charges were out of sight well before the hour mark thanks to goals from Mikel Merino, Nacho Monreal and an absolute screamer from Adnan Januzaj; the result and performance showing that Sociedad are genuine contenders for a Champions League place this term.

Sociedad are sixth in the table and three points behind the top four going into Matchday 26, while they also have a game in hand after their recent fixture against Eibar was postponed due to air pollution. A win against Valladolid this Friday will see the Basque giants at least temporarily overtake Getafe and Sevilla, and that should be enough to prevent them being distracted by next week’s Copa second leg against Mirandes.

Valladolid ease relegation concerns

It took Valladolid a while to make their numerical advantage count over Espanyol last weekend following David Lopez’ first half dismissal, but Pucela got the job done at Jose Zorrilla to ease themselves seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Goals from Sandro Ramirez and Sergi Guardiola sealed a vital 2-1 win for Sergio’s side, who will believe that they can now preserve their top flight status again this season. Valladolid remain 15^th going into Matchday 26, but their growing cushion over the bottom three should see them in good spirits for their trip to Reale Arena this Friday.

Nonetheless, Valladolid’s overall recent form and struggles on the road means they are likely to come up short here against the in-form hosts. The win over Espanyol was just their second success in 13 La Liga games (W2, D6 and L5), while they have also won just one of their last eight outings on the road (W1, D4 and L3).

Sociedad impossible to oppose on Matchday 26

A total of 11 draws this season (including a 0-0 stalemate in December’s reverse fixture between these sides) emphasises how tough Valladolid can be to knock over, but we think La Real will be too strong for them this Friday in their current mood.

Alguacil’s side were sensational against Valencia, and their confidence is evidently sky high after reaching the Copa semis and also beating fierce rivals Bilbao in the Basque Derby earlier this month.

This week’s game against Valladolid undoubtedly represents a much easier task for Sociedad after their recent encounters against Los Che and Los Leones, and we fancy them to cover a one goal handicap.

Sociedad have won two of their last three at home by a three goal margin, while five of Valladolid’s six away defeats this term have been by two goals or more.

The host’s form certainly points to another convincing win here, and we’re also tipping up a 2-0 scoreline. Sociedad have averaged just a shade over two goals per game at home this season, while they have kept clean sheets in two of their last three at Reale Arena.