La Liga Showdown: Real Sociedad Hosts Sevilla Amidst Form Struggles
As the 2025-26 La Liga season progresses, a pivotal encounter is set to unfold at the Estadio de Anoeta on Friday, October 24, 2025, as Real Sociedad hosts Sevilla. Both teams enter this fixture with distinct objectives and recent form, making it a crucial match for their respective campaigns.
Current Standings and Season Overview
Real Sociedad finds themselves in a precarious position, sitting 18th in the La Liga table with just six points from their opening nine matches. Their season record stands at one win, three draws, and five defeats. The Basque outfit has struggled offensively, netting only eight goals (16th in the league) while conceding 13 (14th), resulting in a goal differential of -5, placing them 18th overall.
In contrast, Sevilla occupies the ninth spot in the league, having accumulated 13 points from their first nine games. Matias Almeyda’s side boasts a record of four wins, one draw, and four defeats. Offensively, Sevilla has been more potent, scoring 16 goals (3rd in La Liga) and conceding 14 (15th), giving them a positive goal differential of +2, ranking them sixth in the league. This places them just three points adrift of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, fueling their aspirations for a return to European competition in the 2026-27 season.
Recent Form and Momentum
Real Sociedad’s recent form has been a cause for concern, with their last six La Liga matches showing a pattern of losses and draws (LLWLLD). Their sole victory this term came against fellow strugglers Mallorca on September 24. Most recently, they secured a 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo on October 19, following a 1-0 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano before the international break. They are currently winless in their last three matches across all competitions.
Sevilla’s form has been more inconsistent but shows flashes of brilliance (DWLWWL). They will be looking to bounce back from a 3-1 home defeat to Mallorca on October 18. This loss, however, followed impressive successive victories over Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona, indicating their capability to perform against strong opposition.
Head-to-Head Record
Historically, Real Sociedad has won 54 of their 140 matches against Sevilla in all competitions. More recently, in their last 44 La Liga encounters, Sevilla holds a slight edge with 18 victories compared to Real Sociedad’s 15, with 11 draws. The last time these two teams met in March 2025, Sevilla emerged victorious with a 1-0 scoreline. Interestingly, there hasn’t been a draw between these two sides since March 2022, with the last six contests producing a clear winner.
Team News and Key Players
Real Sociedad
Head coach Sergio Francisco will be without Orri Oskarsson due to a thigh problem, while the availability of Takefusa Kubo, Alex Lebarbier, and Inaki Ruperez remains uncertain after they missed the Celta Vigo clash. Despite these potential absences, Francisco might opt for an unchanged starting XI given the positives from their last outing. Key attacking threats are expected to include Mikel Oyarzabal and Ander Barrenetxea, who has contributed one goal and one assist this season. Brais Mendez, with one goal, is another player to watch.
Sevilla
Matias Almeyda’s side faces doubts over Tanguy Nianzou, Joan Jordan, and Alfonso Gonzalez, but no new injury concerns have been reported. Sevilla’s attack will likely be spearheaded by Isaac Romero, who has netted three goals in nine appearances this season. Ruben Vargas, with two goals and one assist, and Akor Adams, also with two goals, are expected to provide significant offensive support. Notably, former Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez recently made his return to La Liga with Sevilla, as reported by digitaltrendstoday.com, adding another dimension to their attacking options. Djibril Sow and Jose Carmona have also each contributed a goal this season.
Broader La Liga Context
This match takes place amidst a dynamic La Liga season. Real Madrid continues its formidable start, maintaining a perfect record and leading the league, while FC Barcelona is keeping pace with convincing victories, as highlighted by digitaltrendstoday.com. Atlético Madrid, however, has endured a difficult start, securing only one win from their first five games. The league also saw Villarreal and Real Betis secure crucial victories in recent rounds, further intensifying the competition for European spots.
Match Prediction
Pundits offer differing views on the outcome. Sports Mole predicts a low-scoring 1-1 draw, suggesting a stalemate despite the historical lack of draws between these two sides since March 2022. Conversely, Sportskeeda leans towards a Sevilla victory, forecasting a 1-3 scoreline, with Sevilla expected to score first and the game to feature over 2.5 goals. Given Sevilla’s stronger offensive record and Real Sociedad’s struggles, the visitors appear to hold a slight advantage, though Real Sociedad will be desperate to turn their home form around.