La Liga: Is Barca the Best in Europe?

La Liga: Is Barca the Best in Europe?

Barcelona vs Real Sociedad

It’s certainly starting to look that way. Barcelona is on the march to another La Liga title as they head into the weekend nine points clear of Atletico Madrid.

This time, it’s Real Sociedad’s turn to try to stop the Catalans’ inevitable march to another league triumph. With Real Madrid never once threatening to make an assault on the top of the table this season, when Barca beat Atleti recently the race was almost over.

And while the biggest teams in Europe have been dropping out of the Champions League like flies, Ernesto Valverde’s men are still in that competition as it reaches its climax. Win that trophy and there will be no argument. Barca will be confirmed as the best in Europe.

So step up Sociedad and do your worst! This is bound to be another great game for SBOBET La Liga fans to enjoy, and with a near guarantee of goals.

Talking Points

Barca’s Treble bid

All the talk in the UK has been around Manchester City’s quadruple hopes, but former Barca boss Pep Guardiola can only watch his former club in Europe after the Sky Blues exited the Champions League in defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. And the English champions have followed FC Bayern, Juventus and PSG to a European disappointment, so Barca is the last big man standing, with apologies to Liverpool, Ajax and Spurs!

By far the most prolific strike partnership in Spanish football, Leo Messi and Luis Suarez has been in frightening form all season and with their Champions League semi-final place safely in the bag, I don’t expect Valverde to rest too many players.

After being held 0-0 away to bottom club Huesca, the Blaugrana put on a brilliant performance against Manchester United to advance in the Champions League. Messi called the shots again with two goals in the first 20 minutes on Tuesday night at the Camp Nou, before Philippe Coutinho added a third in a 4-0 aggregate win, while goalkeeper Ter Stegen had a nice quiet evening.

Barca is also through to the May Copa del Rey final against Valencia, after dumping Los Blancos in spectacular fashion in the semi-finals.

At the moment they look unstoppable.

Sociedad can beat the best

But I hope Real Sociedad will have a real go. Head coach Imanol Alguacil has the players to take on the top sides in the league on their day, beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu earlier in the season. And, comfortably in tenth placed and with little to worry about, the visitors can play with freedom and enjoy their day out at the Camp Nou.

Sociedad has just one win in the last six but is scoring pretty regularly and has an outside chance of reaching the seventh place, but there are a lot of teams grouped together and Alguacil’s team needs to turn draws into wins if they are to progress. They have drawn three of the last five.

Juanmi was on target in the first minute of a 1-1 stalemate with Eibar last week, and

21-year old striker Mikel Oyarzabal has impressed for Sociedad this season, scoring 12 goals, while Willian Jose has 10. They will hope to give Ter Stegen a busier time than he had against Manchester United.

History

The head to head Barca vs Real Sociedad results don’t give the visitors much encouragement though. Barca has won 31 of the meetings while Sociedad has managed just eight victories and there have been ten draws in the last 49 clashes. And Real Sociedad hasn’t won any of the last six games against the Blaugrana.

But the Barca players didn’t have it all their own way in a narrow 1-2 win away to Sociedad early in the season and will be wary of their opponents’ cutting edge. Real Sociedad hasn’t won in any of their last seven away fixtures though, and Barcelona hasn’t lost in 20, in all competitions.

Betting Tip

Barcelona Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 1.83

It’s no surprise then that the latest Barca vs Real Sociedad betting odds point to a convincing home win. With Luis Suarez and Leo Messi in such devastating form, I wouldn’t bet against both of them getting on the score sheet against Sociedad.

The visitors are at odds of 2.13 to win with that -1.75 handicap, and I think for that bet to be winnable, they might well need to score a goal, so Oyarzabal is the man to watch there.

But if you fancy this could be a stroll in the park against mid-table opposition who might just be heading for the beach, then a 3-0 home win at 8.25 might catch your eye!

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

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