By Zach Lowy
Between September 2007 and December 2016, Barcelona didn’t win any of their eight journeys to Actual Sociedad, earlier than lastly breaking the duck in a 1-0 win within the Copa del Rey. Since then, Barcelona have prevailed in six of their final seven journeys to San Sebastián, and so they’ll be trying to proceed that streak on Sunday.
Barça’s Assault Clicking on all Cylinders
After beginning the Hansi Flick period with three straight 2-1 victories, Barcelona headed into the September worldwide break with a 7-0 thrashing of Actual Valladolid, a momentous consequence that has set the tone for the opening weeks. 10 of Barcelona’s final 13 matches have featured at the least 4 objectives, with the Blaugranas scoring 3+ objectives in every of their final seven. They’re blowing away the competitors, sitting six factors away from Actual Madrid and 10 above Atlético Madrid due to a sensational attacking output that has seen them rack up 40 objectives and win 11 of their first 12 league matches beneath Flick.
Raphinha the Man to Watch
Raphinha isn’t the type of man who forgets. When Barcelona followers took to social media to put up doctored photographs of Athletic Membership winger Nico Williams sporting the #11, Raphinha used that disrespect as gas and has rapidly emerged as one of the vital in-form gamers in world soccer. Since starting October with a purpose and an help vs. Younger Boys, the Brazilian has racked up at the least one purpose contribution in every of his final six matches for Barcelona, together with a hat-trick vs. Bayern Munich, a brace of assists vs. Alavés, and a purpose and an help vs. Actual Madrid.
After establishing each of Barcelona’s first two objectives in Serbia, Raphinha stretched Barcelona’s result in three en path to a 5-2 drubbing of Crimson Star Belgrade on Wednesday. The indicators are promising as he seems to be to seek out the again of the online for the fifth match in a row.
Can La Actual Shake off Latest Woes?
It has been simply over a 12 months since Actual Sociedad completed fourth and ended a decade-long Champions League drought. As we speak, nonetheless, the Basque facet discover themselves in eleventh place in LaLiga. What’s extra, after dropping 2-1 to Viktoria Plzeň on Thursday, they’re at the moment exterior of the 24 Europa League knockout playoff spots.
Thus far this season, Imanol Alguacil’s facet have really achieved higher on the street than at dwelling. While they’ve gained 4 away matches this season, their sole dwelling win out of seven makes an attempt got here on September 28 in a 3-0 thrashing of Valencia. The percentages will not be of their favour as they tackle a Barcelona facet that appears to be cruising to a second LaLiga title in three years.
Prediction
Barça have gained seven of their final eight matches vs. La Actual, and there’s no cause to imagine that sample won’t proceed on Sunday.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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