Dominant Real Sociedad Tipped to Trounce Struggling Almeria

The clash between Real Sociedad and Almeria in La Liga this Sunday is a study in contrasts, with the in-form hosts looking to extend their winning run against the league’s basement dwellers.

Having bowed out of the Champions League at the hands of French giants PSG, Real Sociedad have refocused their attentions on securing a European berth through La Liga. Currently sixth, they trail the top four by nine points with just eight games remaining.

However, a trio of successive victories, including a hard-fought 1-0 derby win over Alaves last time out, has given them renewed hope of gatecrashing the Champions League places.

At the opposite end of the spectrum lies Almeria. Rooted to the foot of the table, a scarcely-believable 15 points adrift of safety, the writing has been on the wall for some time regarding their inevitable relegation.

Their 3-0 home humbling by Osasuna, in which they were 2-0 down inside nine minutes, was a microcosm of their dismal campaign that has brought just one win all season.

When the sides met in the reverse fixture earlier this season, Sociedad had to come from behind to claim all three points in a 3-1 success, scoring twice in stoppage time to seal the win on the road.

That dramatic victory will give Imanol Alguacil’s men confidence of completing a league double over their beleaguered opponents this weekend.

Sociedad have won six of their 15 home games this term, with five draws and three defeats. Almeria’s travels have been even more chastening, losing 12 of 15 on the road, with two draws and a solitary victory.

With the hosts firmly entrenched in the battle for European qualification and the visitors all but down, all the ingredients are in place for a comfortable home win for the Basque outfit.

Throw in Sociedad’s red-hot form, with victory seemingly assured, the shrewd money is on them overcoming the handicap and winning by more than a one-goal margin at odds of 1.52 with 1xBet.