Noelle Matthews
- Real Sociedad v Getafe
- Saturday April 8 2023, 12:30 ET
- At Anoeta Stadium
Getafe is embroiled in another relegation battle but it can earn a vital draw at the weekend when it takes on Real Sociedad.
Who do Bettors Favor?
The best-rated online sportsbooks show that bettors heavily favor Real Sociedad in this La Liga clash. Sociedad is priced as the -160 favorite ahead of this game, while the draw is available at +260 and Villarreal can be backed at between +520 and +600.
| Real Sociedad v Getafe |  |  |  |
| Real Sociedad | -160 | -158 | -165 |
| Draw | +260 | +260 | +260 |
| Getafe | +600 | +520 | +550 |
Real Sociedad in UCL Contention
It had a shaky start to the season but as La Liga enters the final quarter, Real Sociedad is in contention for a UCL place that would make up for Europa League disappointment.
Currently fourth in the table, Imanol Alguacil’s team is six points behind Atletico Madrid, but of more relevance is the three-point lead it has over fifth-placed Real Betis, which is in turn one point clear of Villarreal. Of course, Sociedad fans will remember last season, when their team had a fantastic fall spell and remained in the top three until December, before entering a slump that saw it finish sixth.
This season’s campaign, however, appears to be more solid, and having entered the top four in November, the team has remained there, although, with games remaining against each of the top three, it cannot afford any drop in form, which makes last weekend’s defeat at Villarreal more unfortunate.
Getafe Struggling Again
When Quique Sanchez Flores took over at Getafe last season, the situation appeared desperate. It had picked up one point from its first eight games, but the new head coach oversaw an improvement that was enough to keep the club in La Liga, though by the narrowest of margins.
If fans were hoping that the team might be able to build on that survival fight, they have been disappointed, and Getafe is struggling once again as the season enters the final weeks.
It may be in 14th position, but there are only three points separating Getafe and the relegation zone, and, given that it faces Real Sociedad and Barcelona in consecutive weeks, there is every chance of the teams below closing the gap and putting the Madrid side under pressure. A run of four games without defeat has given it a chance, but there is plenty more work to do to ensure another year in the topflight and all the signs are that this year’s relegation battle will once again be tight.
La Liga Betting Head-to-Head
The current incarnation of Getafe was founded in 1983 and didn’t earn promotion to the top tier of Spanish football until 2004, so its rivalry with Real Sociedad has been confined to the 21st century.
The first competitive game between the two teams was on December 19, 2004, when Getafe earned a draw at the Anoeta Stadium. Getafe also played well in the return game that season, winning 2-0, and has continued to have the better of the fixture despite being the smaller team.
The head-to-head shows that Getafe has won 13 of 29 games between the two, while Sociedad has won seven and there have been nine draws. Last season both La Liga games ended in draws, but Getafe won the reverse fixture this season, back in September, thanks to goals on either side of half-time.
La Liga Team News
Considering the stage of the season we’re at, Real Sociedad’s team news is not too bad, but unfortunately, its relatively short injury list is concentrated in one department. All three players on the injured list are forwards. Carlos Fernandez has a muscle problem and will be out until the middle of the month, while Umar Sadiq, who has scored three goals in five games, will be missing until at least mid-May with an ACL injury and Martin Merquelanz does not yet have a return date.
Getafe’s situation is better. Its only injury absentee is central midfielder Mauro Arambarri, who has been out with a muscle issue since early March, however, it has three forwards: Munir El Haddadi, Enus Unal, and Borja Mayoral who are one booking away from a suspension.
La Liga Match Betting Pick
Based on ability and record so far this season, this should be a straightforward win for Real Sociedad, but at this point in the season, results can be a little unpredictable as teams that are running out of time to secure their position bring more desperation to their play.
There are signs that the pressure may be starting to tell on Sociedad, while Getafe has put together a handy run, which has included two draws, in Cadiz and Bilbao. Meanwhile, Sociedad has only won one of its last four home games, scoring only three goals across those games. This is likely to be another low-scoring contest and the draw looks the best pick in the match betting market.
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