Round 21 of the 2022-23 Spanish La Liga season continues Monday, February 13, when Espanyol hosts Real Sociedad at RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat. It’s the second meeting of the season between these two foes, and the visitors are favored to come out on top.
Espanyol – Real Sociedad Betting Tip, Prediction & Odds (13.2.2023)
Real Sociedad is one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2022-23 La Liga season. The Royal continue their battle for the Champions League football next season, and the road clash against the White and Blue could be pivotal for Diego Martinez’s boys.
Espanyol vs. Real Sociedad: Initial Situation
The Royal occupy the third spot in La Liga with 39 points and a 28:19 goal difference. They are seven points ahead of the fifth-placed Rayo Vallecano. On the other side, Espanyol sits at the 15th spot with 21 points and a 24:30 goal difference, just a couple of points above the relegation zone.
Espanyol Stats & Form
The White and Blue have been hit-or-miss in their last five league games, recording a couple of wins and draws and a loss in the process. Last weekend, Espanyol drew 1-1 against Osasuna at home, and both teams finished with ten men on the pitch. The 24-year-old right-back Ronael Pierre-Gabriel was sent off in his first game with Espanyol, so he’s suspended for Monday’s game against Real Sociedad.
Espanyol is undefeated in three straight outings at home. The White and Blue sandwiched a 1-0 victory over Betis with a pair of draws against Osasuna and Girona 2-2. They’ve scored in each but one of their last five games at RCDE Stadium.
Real Sociedad Stats & Form
After winning seven straight contests in all competitions including four victories in La Liga, the Royal have gone winless in three games in a row. They’ve also failed to find the back of the net in that three-game stretch, sandwiching a goalless draw against Real Madrid with a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona in Copa del Rey and a 1-0 loss against Valladolid in the league.
Real Sociedad has been outstanding on the road so far this season. In its previous four league matches away from home, Sociedad has recorded three wins and a draw while allowing just one goal to its opponents.
Espanyol – Real Sociedad: Head-to-Head
Back in September, Real Sociedad outlasted Espanyol 2-1 as a 1.72 home fave. The Royal controlled the game for all 90 minutes and kept the ball in possession for 63 percent of the time. Sociedad has won five of its previous six encounters with Espanyol along with a 1-0 defeat at RCDE Stadium in 2021-22.
Espanyol – Real Sociedad Odds
Although the Royal haven’t impressed in the last couple of weeks, the bookmakers are expecting them to beat Espanyol on the road. We should see a low-scoring game, and the Under 2.5 Goals pays 1.53 on both Unibet and bet365.
Betting tip and prediction: Espanyol – Real Sociedad (13.2.2023)
It’s hard to trust Real Sociedad to get the job done in this tough road matchup. Despite their excellent road form, the Royal haven’t scored in three consecutive games overall. On the other side, Espanyol has only lost one of its previous seven home contests in La Liga, so take the double chance on the hosts at 1.65 on Unibet.
Another interesting wager is a draw at halftime, as it pays 2.00 on Unibet. Real Sociedad prefers to take a cautious approach and control the ball in the middle of the park, so we could easily see a goalless first half.