Villarreal vs Real Sociedad prediction 09.12.2023

• Competition: La Liga
• Date: Saturday, 9th December 2023
• Kickoff: 17:30 UTC / 18:30 CET
• Venue: Estadio de la Ceramica (Villarreal)

Villarreal has consistently secured between fourth and seventh place in the league table over the past decade, with the exception of a disappointing 2018/19 season when they came in 14th. However, this season got off to a rocky start for the Yellow Submarine, leading to the dismissal of two coaches. At present, Villarreal holds 12th place in La Liga with 16 points, placing them worryingly closer to the relegation zone than the European spots. In the Europa League, they sit second in their group, but a potential victory in their final game against Rennes could catapult them to the top. Under their new coach, Marcelino, the team has remained unbeaten for nearly a month, sparking optimism. The club’s decision to change management appears to have been timely and correct.

Over the years, Real Sociedad has consistently made progress. Last season, they finally achieved 4th place, earning them a spot in the Champions League, their first since the 2013/14 season. Their performance has been excellent, as they have already secured a place in the next stage of the competition. They are also doing well in La Liga, where they currently hold the 6th position with 26 points, just five points shy of the coveted 4th place. The performance of The White and Blues has been solid.

Villarreal vs Real Sociedad pick: Villarreal to win or draw

Since Marcelino’s arrival, Villarreal has sustained a five-game undefeated streak across all competitions. Their performance at Estadio de la Ceramica, however, has been markedly poor this season, particularly when compared to the previous one. Last season, they suffered just four losses in 19 La Liga home games. This season, they’ve already been defeated five times! Nevertheless, with the new coach at the helm, the Yellow Submarine has shown significant improvement, securing seven points in three games, including one La Liga and two Europa League matches.

Without a doubt, Real Sociedad is a strong team currently in good form. However, their recent performances have been subpar, with only one win in their last three games, which was against Andratx, a lower-league team, in the Copa del Rey. In light of this, we are skeptical of their ability to secure a full three points in an away match against the in-form team, Villarreal.

In the last season, these teams faced off twice, each securing victory on their home turf. Taking into account past head-to-head matches and other factors, we are confident that the Yellow Submarine has the potential to earn at least one point.