On August 25, 2024, at 3:30 a.m., La Liga will feature a marquee matchup as Espanyol host Real Sociedad.
The Spaniards have had their ups and downs in La Liga recently, and suffered a 0-1 defeat against Valladolid in the first round of the new season, opening the league in the black. The team's performance on the defensive end is quite good, with only 3 goals conceded in the last 5 matches in all competitions, including 3 shutouts, but the offensive end may need to be strengthened, with fewer goals scored in the recent matches. The Spaniards brought in Augsburg's French center forward Cardona and winger Tejero through loans and waivers in the offseason, aiming to bolster the team's offensive capabilities. However, the team also lost some key players such as midfielder Nico Melamed, midfielder Caddy Bare and wingback Oscar Hill, which may have some impact on the team's overall strength and tactical setup.
Real Sociedad performed well in the first round of the new season, beating Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on the road to open the league. The team has been in good form in recent matches, and has won the last 2 matches in a row, showing strong competitiveness. Real Sociedad also made some key player adjustments during the off-season, such as signing Barcelona B center back Fernandez and Bordeaux midfielder Pedro Diaz, which enhanced the depth of the team. Although the team's offense has only scored 8 goals in their last 10 matches in all competitions, the defense has been relatively stable, which could be the key to the team's advantage in the tournament.
Combined analysis shows that Real Sociedad is significantly better than Espanyol in terms of squad strength, tactical system and recent form. Despite the fluctuation of the team's competitive state in the beginning of the new season, facing the promoted Spanish, Real Sociedad is expected to show better overall strength, using its stable defense and efficient counterattacks, and strive to win on the road.
It is expected that Real Sociedad will take advantage of its stronger overall strength and recent good form, and the game is favored to Real Sociedad's small victory.
