PREVIEW: FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad

Barça host current LaLiga leaders, Real Sociedad, looking to become only the second team after Valencia (who come to the Camp Nou on Saturday, 4.15pm CET) to beat La Real in the league this season. A tough match is expected against an opponent that has only let in six goals in the Spanish top-flight during the 2020/21 campaign.  

TV Times

You can find a full schedule for where and when to watch the match here. If you are unable to see the game, or if you wish to complement your viewing with additional information, don’t forget that we have full coverage of the game, including the build-up live from the stadium and post-match reactions in our Match Center on the club's official website. 

You will also find our minute-by-minute text updates, a link to listen to live English language commentary on Radio Barça and plenty more to keep you entertained!

Did you know?

FC Barcelona have not lost any of their last eight meetings with Real Sociedad in LaLiga (6W 2D), since a 1-0 loss at the Reale Arena in April 2016.

FC Barcelona have won 22 consecutive league games against La Real at the Camp Nou and need just one more victory to equal their best ever winning run against this opponent at home, which currently stands at 23 wins between 1929 and 1961.

FC Barcelona have not lost in their last 15 games against Basque teams at the Camp Nou in LaLiga (14W 1D) with 41 goals scored and only nine against, since a 1-2 defeat against Alavés in September 2016.

Real Sociedad have lost their last two matches played on a Wednesday in LaLiga after have won the previous three played that day, while FC Barcelona have only lost one of their last 11 Wednesday night matches in the competition (8W 2D).

Real Sociedad have 26 points after their first 13 matches in LaLiga 2020/21, their second highest figure at this stage of the campaign in the 21st century (their best is 29 in 2002/03, the campaign in which they finished in second place).

FC Barcelona have won their last three home games in LaLiga, their best streak at home in competition with Ronald Koeman as coach.

Real Sociedad player, Willian José, participated in a goal in each of his first four games against FC Barcelona in LaLiga (three goals and one assist), but has not been able to do so in any of the last four meetings against the Blaugranes in the competition.

Lionel Messi has participated in 14 goals in his 10 games played at the Camp Nou against Real Sociedad (10 goals and four assists), including scoring four goals and providing two assists against the team from San Sebastian in their last five games played there in the competition.

Adnan Januzaj, has participated in a goal in each of his last three away games in LaLiga (two goals and one assist), as many as in his previous 20 away games in the competition (one goal and two assists).

Real Sociedad coach, Imanol Alguacil, has not won in any of his four clashes with FC Barcelona in LaLiga (1L 3D), and against no other opponent has he managed on more occasions without a victory in the competition (four against Sevilla also).

It's been 15 years since there was a goalless draw in this fixture, the last one coming on May 27, 2005.

Current Form

Real Sociedad are unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions, since losing to Napoli in the Europa League back in October. However, they are winless in their last six in all competitions, drawing against; AZ Alkmaar (0-0), Villarreal (1-1), Rijeka (2-2), Alavés (0-0), Napoli (1-1) and Eibar (1-1).

In the same timeframe, Barça have won six (2-1 v Dynamo Kyiv, 5-2 v Real Betis, 0-4 v Dynamo Kyiv, 4-0 v Osasuna, 0-3 v Ferencváros and 1-0 v Levante), drawn one (1-1 v Alavés) and lost three (1-0 v Atlético Madrid, 2-1 v Cádiz and 0-3 v Juventus)

The Squad

Ronald Koeman will name his squad for the match on the morning of the game, and this article will be updated accordingly.

Koeman said

“We have to have more confidence in ourselves and have the ball to create danger and goalscoring opportunities."

"Real Sociedad's success is in large part down to the coach's system. They have players who without the ball are excellent. They take risks playing from the back but we have things that can make it difficult for them." 

"In general we can't be happy with some of the results we have had in La Liga. We have lost games we should not have even though in the last game the attitude and performance was very good."