Espanyol vs Real Sociedad prediction: teams form analysis, possible lineups on May 23, 2026
LaLiga Spain
In the 38th round of the Spanish La Liga on May 23, 2026, Espanyol will face Real Sociedad. The match features neighbors in the league table.
Espanyol vs Real Sociedad: Team News and Expert Analysis
The suburban Barcelona club, after returning in 2024 following a brief stint in the Segunda, collected 42 points and, thanks to tiebreakers, finished in fourteenth place. After the summer break, they started the new season strongly. But in 2026, on the contrary, they failed to win a single game! As a result, ambitions for a Champions League spot turned into the risk of relegation. This threat was neutralized only by defeating Athletic and Osasuna in the final rounds.
The team from San Sebastián, after dropping to eleventh place a year ago, parted ways with Alguacil. But without Imanol, performances worsened—fortunately, realizing this, the club brought in Matarazzo as coach in 2025, and the squad was transformed! The highlight was a cup victory, beating Atlético on penalties after a 2-2 final. However, after this triumph, their league form dipped. Most recently, they lost to Valencia in the previous round.
The Catalans now average just 1.14 goals scored and concede 1.46 per match. The cup holders have nearly even stats in La Liga: 1.57 goals scored and 1.62 conceded per game.
Previous Matches: Espanyol vs Real Sociedad
The San Sebastián club has won eight of the last ten encounters, losing only once. But this season finally saw a draw.
The visitors seem to have relaxed, while the hosts have awakened. We predict a win for the Catalans with a "0" handicap (odds – 1.62).
Espanyol vs Real Sociedad: Key Stats and Trends
- Espanyol had no wins in the current calendar year until their last two rounds
- 57% of Espanyol's matches end with goals from both teams and an average total of 2.59 goals per match
- Real Sociedad lost two of their last four matches
- 78% of Real Sociedad's matches feature goals from both teams, with an average total of 3.19 goals per match
Espanyol vs Real Sociedad: Possible Starting Lineups
Espanyol is expected to use a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (probable lineup): Dmitrovic – Romero, Cabrera, Calero, El Hilali – Exposito, Gonzalez – Milla, Terrats, Ngonge – Garcia. Puado will not feature.
Real Sociedad is likely to play a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (probable lineup): Remiro – Caleta-Car, Martin, Gomez, Aramburu – Gorrochategui, Turrientes – Marin, Soler, Barrenetxea – Oyarzabal. Odriozola is definitely out, while Caleta-Car, Gorrochategui, and Barrenetxea are questionable.
Follow the Spanish La Liga table and check your team's form before placing your next bet.
