Real Sociedad vs Espanyol prediction: team news, lineups, expert analysis
In the 3rd round of the Spanish La Liga on August 29, 2026, Real Sociedad will face Espanyol. Both sides will be looking to delight their supporters.
Real Sociedad vs Espanyol team news and expert analysis
The San Sebastian club have been losing ground in recent years. They only found their feet after Matarazzo took over as head coach in the winter. He eventually led his new team to victory in the Copa del Rey. However, they lost momentum in La Liga, although there was an upturn after the new manager's arrival. In the end, they finished in the top 10 with 46 points. This season has begun on a difficult note. First, they failed to score against Real Betis and lost 0-1. Then they suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat against Real Madrid.
The Barcelona-based side had an excellent first half of last season. However, after the winter break, they seemed to forget how to win — and winning in particular. Only a decent run in the spring allowed them to collect the same 46 points as their current opponents and finish 11th. After the break, they thrashed Levante 3-0. They then lost 1-2 to Real Madrid, conceding the decisive goal in the 90th minute.
The cup winners were almost evenly matched in the league, scoring 1.55 goals per game and conceding 1.61. The Catalans were noticeably less effective: they scored just 1.13 goals per match while conceding 1.45.
Head to Head matches: Real Sociedad vs Espanyol
Real Sociedad had won five consecutive meetings, but the two most recent encounters ended in draws.
The hosts may fail to live up to their status as favorites. A better option is to back both teams to score (odds – 1.77).
Real Sociedad vs Espanyol: key statistics and trends
- Real Sociedad have lost five matches in a row
- Espanyol have lost two of their last three matches
Real Sociedad vs Espanyol: Possible starting lineups
Real Sociedad play in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (possible lineup): Remiro - Martin, Beitia, Aramburu, Gomez - Soler, Herrera - Barrenetxea, Sucic, Kubo - Oskarsson
Espanyol play in a 1-4-4-2 formation (possible lineup): Dmitrovic - Inoho, Nunez, Riedel, El Hilali - Dolan, Exposito, Gonzalez, Calatrava - Hernandez, Fernandez
Follow the Spanish La Liga table and keep up to date with your team's form before placing a bet on the next match.
