With a trying season nearly complete, Barcelona hope to recover a shred of dignity as they battle for second in the La Liga table, hosting European qualification contenders Real Sociedad in Catalonia on Monday.
Barca have endured a topsy-turvy season, without a trophy and sitting third in the Spanish top-flight standings. A humbling defeat to Girona last time out left their tiny Catalonian neighbors above them in the table, but a draw with Alaves earlier in the weekend left Girona vulnerable, and Barca could reclaim second with a win here.
After Barcelona's hierarchy convinced Xavi to remain in charge recently, there are now reports that the Barca boss could have his job in jeopardy should the club fail to secure second place.
The challenge will be difficult as they take on Real Sociedad, who are seventh in the table, right in the thick of the battle for Europa League qualification. They are just one point back of sixth-placed Real Betis, and could snatch that spot with a result of any kind here.
USA: Click here to see the latest odds for Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad and bet La Liga matches
Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad prediction, oddsMoneyline lean: Draw (+280)Score prediction: Barcelona 1-1 Real SociedadReal Sociedad are not in the kind of form necessary to beat a team like Barcelona on the road, but they are absolutely the kind of side that can engineer a low-scoring draw. La Real nearly snatched a result against Real Madrid two games back in a slim 1-0 defeat, limiting Los Blancos to just a few precious chances and having a goal ruled out on VAR.
In that game, Real Madrid were looking ahead to their Champions League semifinal, and here, Barcelona have little to play for as well. Sure the club will want to finish as high as they can in the table, but that's often little consolation to a group of players who lack the connection to the club to play for something as intangible as a number on paper.
BetMGM(USA)Barcelona win-130Draw+280Real Sociedad win+333Both teams
to scoreY: -130
N: -110Over / Under
2.5 goalsO: -120
U: -115Barcelona
-0.5 goals-140Real Sociedad
+0.5 goals+100Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad match factsDate: Monday, May 13, 2024Kickoff time: 8 p.m. local (3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT)Location: Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium (Barcelona, Spain)Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez, VAR: Mario Melero LopezLast meeting: Real Sociedad 0-1 Barcelona (Nov. 4, 2023 | La Liga)Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad best betPick: Both teams to score & under 3.5 goalsOdds: +230 (BetMGM)
Real Sociedad aren't the most attack-minded team of all time, especially with Takefusa Kubo in a goal scoring slump, but they should find the net against an error-prone Barcelona side who have conceded to La Real in four of their last six league meetings.
Barcelona have shipped nine goals in their last three league games, including three to Real Madrid, two to Valencia, and four to Girona. Add in the four they allowed to PSG the game before that in the Champions League, and it's all gone belly-up at the back for Barcelona.
Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad live stream, TV channel TV channelStreamingUSAESPN DeportesFubo USA, ESPN+CanadaTSN3Fubo Canada, TSN+UKPremier Sports 1Premier Sports Player, LaLigaTVThis match will be broadcast in the United States in Spanish on ESPN Deportes, which can be accessed on streaming service Fubo, who are offering a FREE trial for new users. The match can also be streamed on ESPN+, where an English-language and Spanish-language broadcasts are available.
In Canada, this match will be televised on TSN3, which is available to stream on Fubo Canada. Meanwhile in the UK, the game will be televised on Premier Sports 1, formerly ViaPlay Sports.
