Sports Mole previews Friday’s La Liga clash between Real Sociedad and Sevilla, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sevilla will be looking to return to winning ways in Spain’s top flight when they continue their campaign with an away match against a struggling Real Sociedad on Friday evening.
The visitors are up in ninth spot in the La Liga table, picking up 13 points from their opening nine matches of the season, while the hosts are 18th, having only claimed six points from their first nine games.
Match preview
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a desperately disappointing 2025-26 campaign for Real Sociedad to date, with the Basque outfit sitting down in 18th spot in the table on six points.
La Real have a record of one win, three draws and five defeats in La Liga this term, with their only victory coming at home to fellow strugglers Mallorca on September 24.
Sergio Francisco’s side were beaten 1-0 at home by Rayo Vallecano before the October international break, but they did manage to claim a point in a 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo last time out.
The White and Blues have won 54 of their 140 matches against Sevilla in all competitions, but they suffered a 1-0 defeat when the two teams last locked horns in March 2025.
Real Sociedad finished a disappointing 11th in Spain’s top flight last term, meaning that there was huge room for improvement in 2025-26, but it has been a poor opening couple of months for the Basque side.
Sevilla, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 3-1 home defeat to Mallorca, with that loss following successive wins over Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona.
Los Nervionenses finished 17th in Spain’s top flight last season, which represented their worst campaign since being relegated in 1999-2000, but there has been an improvement at the start of this term.
Matias Almeyda‘s side have a record of four wins, one draw and four defeats from their nine league matches this season, which has left them in ninth spot in the table on 13 points.
Sevilla are only actually three points off fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, and there is certainly enough quality in their squad to challenge for a return to Europe for the 2026-27 campaign.
Los Nervionenses have won two of their last three league matches against Real Sociedad, and they will be aiming to make it successive wins over the Basque outfit for the first time since 2021 in this match.
Real Sociedad La Liga form:
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Sevilla La Liga form:
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Team News
Real Sociedad will again be missing Orri Oskarsson due to a thigh problem, while Takefusa Kubo, Alex Lebarbier and Inaki Ruperez need to be assessed after missing out against Celta.
There were positives from the clash with Celta last time out, so head coach Francisco could name an unchanged XI, with Mikel Oyarzabal set to be joined by Ander Barrenetxea in the final third of the field.
Carlos Soler is among the options for change, while Goncalo Guedes also impressed off the bench last time out, so the 28-year-old will be in contention for a spot in the final third of the field.
As for Sevilla, Tanguy Nianzou, Joan Jordan and Alfonso Gonzalez remain major doubts for the contest, but the visitors have not reported any fresh concerns.
Head coach Almeyda does have a number of options for change in the final third of the field, with Adnan Januzaj, Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke all available for selection.
However, Isaac Romero should again lead the line for the away team, while there will be a spot for Ruben Vargas, with the attacking duo netting five times between them in La Liga this season.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Caleta-Car, Munoz; Mendez, Herrera, Gorrotxategi, Gomez; Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Carmona, Azpilicueta, Marcao, Suazo; Mendy, Agoume; Sanchez, Sow, Vargas; Romero
We say: Real Sociedad 1-1 Sevilla
There has not actually been a draw between these two sides since March 2022, with their last six contests producing a winner. However, we are struggling to separate them on this occasion and have had to settle on a low-scoring stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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